Is the anti-stress effect of vitamin C related to adrenal gland function in rat?

Ji Young Choi, Ike Campomayor dela Peña, Seo Young Yoon, Tae Sun Woo, Yoon Jung Choi, Chan Young Shin, Jong Hoon Ryu, Yong Soo Lee, Gu Yong Yu, Jae Hoon Cheong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether vitamin C influences the stress response system of the adrenal gland. Adrenalectomized (ADX) rats and non- ADX rats were administered vitamin C and were subjected to electroshock stress (ES) for 5 days. After loading the final stress, stress-related behaviors and corticosterone (CORT), vitamin C, and adrenocorticotropin-releasing hormone (ACTH) levels in the blood were measured. Vitamin C supplementation decreased CORT levels in non- ADX rats. Stress decreased the mean value of rearing frequency in both non-ADX and ADX rats, while vitamin C partially enhanced it only in non-ADX. Vitamin C supplementation decreased mean ACTH level in both groups. It also significantly decreased freezing time increased by stress. Lastly, vitamin C motivated both groups to cross over an electric field more frequently as compared to their respective control groups. These results suggest that the alleviating effect of vitamin C on stress-related rearing behavior was exerted via modulation of CORT, but its effect on freezing behavior may be attributed to corticotropinreleasing hormone (CRH) or ACTH.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)429-435
Number of pages7
JournalFood Science and Biotechnology
Volume20
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2011

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Food Science
  • Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

Keywords

  • Behavior
  • Corticosterone
  • Electroshock stress
  • Vitamin C

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