title: L-ascorbic acid: effects on aortic glycosaminoglycan 35S incorporation in rabbit-induced atherogenesis.
abstract: The effects of L-ascorbic acid on 35S-incorporation into thoracic aorta glycosaminoglycans and upon aorta cholesterol levels were determined in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. No significant difference was observed in serum free or esterified cholesterol levels between animals receiving L-ascorbic acid supplementation or saline while maintained on a cholesterol diet (0.5%). A 15-fold higher serum cholesterol was observed in animals on the cholesterol diet to those animals which received a normal rabbit (Purina) diet. L-Ascorbic acid increased sulfated glycosaminoglycans concentrations in hypercholesterolemic rabbits which paralleled lower tissue free and esterified cholesterol levels. The 35S-specific activity of glycosaminoglycans in hypercholesterolemic animals receiving saline was much greater than in those animals receiving L-ascorbic acid. This suggests that L-ascorbic acid plays a role in the maintenance of adequate levels of aortic sulfated glycosaminoglycans. This then is a suggested biochemical mechanism of L-ascorbic acids interaction in the atherogenic process.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D002784:Cholesterol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid