Fig. 1.

Female Gulo^−/− pups had lower fasting serum glucose levels after VC deprivation. Male or female pups at 22 days old were subjected to VC supplementation (VC+) or deprivation (VC-) for 5 weeks. Before blood isolation and serum glucose measurement, each group of pups was starved for 16 h. (A and B) Fasting serum glucose (FSG) levels in male and female pups after VC deprivation for the indicated times. (C and D) FSG values for the area under the curve (AUC) were calculated during a 3 to 5-week period of VC deprivation. (E and F) The average food intake of 24 h per pup relative to body weight was calculated during the 3 weeks of VC deprivation. Welch's t-test, n = 6, mean SD; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 versus VC+.