Ascorbic acid status of mullet, Mugil cephalus Linn., exposed to cadmium

The effects of acute and chronic cadmium exposures on ascorbic acid concentrations and cadmium accumulation in the tissues of juvenile mullet, Mugil cephalus, are described. Hepatic ascorbic acid reserves were maintained in untreated mullet fed a diet containing ascorbate, but decreased 60% in individuals exposed to 10 mg Cd 1‐1 for six weeks. Ascorbic acid depletion was accompanied by a massive accumulation of cadmium in the liver. Similar changes were found in gill tissue. In contrast, ascorbic acid concentrations were largely unaffected in kidney tissue which had a limited capacity to accumulate the metal. There were marked fluctuations of ascorbic acid levels in the brain. Only small amounts of cadmium were accumulated by this tissue. These results indicate that in mullet liver, gill and brain ascorbic acid stores may be depleted during chronic cadmium poisoning.