The concentration of ascorbic acid in different tissues of calf fetuses in 3 different development stages

The concentration of ascorbic acid in the cerebrum and in the brain stem of bovine fetuses decreased with increasing body weight; in the cerebellum there was no change. The decrease of the concentration in the lungs, in the heart, in the kidneys, in the M. longissimus and in the M. semimembranosus in the course of the fetal growth was different. In the liver and in the adrenals the concentration in the 3 groups of fetuses with a body weight of 4.18 +/- 2.01, of 9.72 +/- 0.97 and of 17.12 +/- 2.61 kg was similar. The highest concentrations were found in the adrenals, in the testes and in the cerebrum. The functional significance of the changes in the concentration in the tissues of the bovine fetuses is discussed and compared with the results in human fetuses and in adult cattle.