title: Ascorbate-enhanced copper toxicity on bovine corneal endothelial cells in vitro.
abstract: The present results indicate that 30 micrograms/ml copper was toxic to bovine corneal endothelial cells (BCEC) cultured in a serum-free medium (SFM) when the duration of treatment was 72 hours or more. Copper at 10 micrograms/ml, if mixed with 50 micrograms/ml ascorbate 2 to 3 hours before treatment, caused a transient decrease in the number of nuclei/mm2 at 72 hour, whereas 10 micrograms/ml copper alone was apparently non-toxic. When 10 micrograms/ml copper was added to 50 micrograms/ml ascorbate at the time of treatment, the toxicity was increased. All the treated cells failed to survive beyond 24 hours, and copper at a lower concentration of 1 microgram/ml could inhibit the proliferation of BCEC. We propose that copper toxicity on BCEC is augmented by ascorbate possibly through the increased replenishment of Cu+ and the subsequent enhanced production of free radicals by copper auto-oxidation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pastor
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Yee
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D001205:Ascorbic Acid