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Department of Animal Sciences

CFAES

Endocrine Tissues

Regulation of Luteal Vitamin C Transporters

Endocrine tissues, like the pituitary gland, the adrenal glands, and the corpus luteum (CL), have the highest concentrations of vitamin C in the body. Such high levels of vitamin C may indicate a vital role in maintaining endocrine tissues and optimizing hormone production. The CL is unique because it is a dynamic and transient endocrine tissue. There are two vitamin C transporters that have been described in several species. These proteins are necessary for uptake of vitamin C by cells that use vitamin C. Research by Dr. Joseph Ottobre and Dr. Macdonald Wick determined that these transporters exist in the sheep corpus luteum, they have taken steps to determine the specific structure (i.e., amino acid makeup), and they are testing factors that may influence regulation.