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A Study of Neuromuscular Regeneration Under Different Levels of Vitamin C Intakes¹

Department of Physiology, State University of Iowa, Iowa City

A comparative study was made of neuromuscular regeneration in guinea pigs subsisting on different levels of vitamin C. The ascorbic acid intakes ranged from 0.5 to 50.0 mg. per day. Complete denervation of the gastrocnemius muscle was produced by crushing the tibial nerve. The contralateral non-denervated limb served as a control. Studies were made at 35 days after operation concerning muscle atrophy and strength and the capacity of the regenerating nerve to activate its muscle.

The regenerating muscles of animals subsisting on suboptimal intakes of vitamin C were relatively weaker than those of animals supplied with adequate intakes. It is suggested that the retarded functional recovery in such muscles may be due to a lack of sufficient collagenous material for regeneration and protection against hemorrhagic lesions precipitated by stress, strain and trauma. The possibility also exists that regenerating muscles may have a higher vitamin C requirement than non-regenerating control muscles. It was found that excess intakes of vitamin C had no beneficial effect upon the course of neuromuscular regeneration.

Manuscript received 22 November 1943.