Decrease of nitrate biosynthesis in scorbutic mutant rats unable to synthesize ascorbic acid.
The effect of ascorbic acid deficiency on the urinary excretion of nitrate was investigated using a mutant strain of rats (osteogenic disorder syndrome rats; ODS rats) unable to synthesize ascorbic acid. The amount of urinary nitrate excreted by ODS rats with or without ascorbic acid supplementation were measured before and after the intraperitoneal injection of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Urinary nitrate excretion increased markedly after LPS injection. Urinary nitrate excretion by ODS rats not supplied with ascorbic acid was significantly less than that of those supplied with ascorbic acid both before and after LPS injection. These results show that ascorbic acid enhances both LPS-stimulated and constitutive nitrate production in vivo.
Kosaka
H
H
Division of Environmental Health Research, Osaka Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Japan.
Terada
N
N
Ito
Y
Y
Uozumi
M
M
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000652:urine*; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D009566:Nitrates / Q000652:urine*; D051381:Rats; D011922:Rats, Mutant Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009566:Nitrates; D001205:Ascorbic Acid