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.