In Vivo Cultivation of Leukocytes in Diffusion Chambers: Requirement of Ascorbic Acid for Differentiation of Mononuclear Leukocytes to Fibroblasts

Abstract

Abstract Studies were made to evaluate the influence of ascorbic acid upon the differentiation of mononuclear leukocytes to fibroblasts when cultivated in diffusion chambers, in vivo. Ascorbic acid-depleted leukocytes grown in ascorbic acid-deficient host guinea pigs developed into abnormal cellular forms characterized by nuclear enlargement, multipolar mitoses, and giant forms These changes could be reversed by treatment of the host guinea pigs with ascorbic acid. The findings indicate a direct cellular role of ascorbic acid in the differentiation of mononuclear leukocytes to fibroblasts.