title: Studies of the cardioprotective effects of ascorbic acid in isolated rabbit hearts.
abstract: Ascorbic acid (CAS 50-81-7) might mediate cardioprotective effects by scavenging free oxygen radicals. The effects of exogenous ascorbic acid on acute myocardial ischemia (MI) was investigated in isolated electrically-driven rabbit hearts (Langendorff, constant pressure: 70 cm H2O, Tyrode solution, Ca2+ 1.8 mmol/l, 37 degrees C). Repetitive MI, separated by a reperfusion period of 50 min, was induced by coronary artery branch ligature and quantitated from epicardial NADH-fluorescence photography. Starting after a reperfusion period of 20 min, isolated hearts were treated with ascorbic acid (10(-5) or 10(-4) mol/l). Ascorbic acid had no significant influence on the left ventricular left ventricular pressure or the coronary flow (p > 0.05). Ascorbic acid had no significant effect on epicardial NADH-fluorescence area or intensity (p > 0.05). Free radical scavenging properties reported for ascorbic acid do not mediate cardioprotective effects at the concentrations used in isolated rabbit hearts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Rump
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schierholz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Klaus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009243:NAD / Q000378:metabolism; D010496:Pericardium / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009243:NAD; D001205:Ascorbic Acid