The Effect of Ascorbic Acid on the Constitution of Complement

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary: Ascorbic acid has no reactivating effect on end- or mid-piece of complement. On the reconstructed complement (mid- + end-piece) ascorbic acid produces an increased action. Complement denatured by yeast is improved by the addition of ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid has no effect on complement treated by ammonia. After inactivation of complement of 5 minutes at 55°C. the serum is not improved by the addition of ascorbic acid. The inactivation of complement by shaking in air or in vacuo is in all probability a physical process and such inactivation is, so far as ascorbic acid is concerned, irreversible. Aeration of complement by air reduces its activity. This reduced activity can be markedly restored by the addition of ascorbic acid.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: