Vitamin C increases the formation of prostacyclin by aortic rings from various species and neutralizes the inhibitory effect of 15‐hydroperoxy‐arachidonic acid

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Abstract
1 Aortic rings from rats, rabbits and guinea-pigs produce different amounts of 6-oxo***-prostaglandin F1α (6-oxo-PGF1α), the stable breakdown product of prostacyclin, i.e. 2760 ± 195, 160 ± 10 and 87 ± 17 pg 6-oxo-PGF1α per mg wet weight in 30 min. 2 Vitamin C enhances the production of 6-oxo-PGF1α by the aortic tissue of these three species, independent of their basal release. This increase was only significant if vitamin C was present in the preincubation as well as in the incubation fluid. 3 15-Hydroperoxy-arachidonic acid inhibits the production of 6-oxo-PGF1α (IC50:6 μm) and this inhibitory effect was completely neutralized by vitamin C. 4 The increased production of 6-oxo-PGF1α is not due to an increased release of the substrate arachidonic acid. It is suggested that vitamin C enhances the formation of 6-oxo-PGF1α by protecting the cyclo-oxygenase and PGI-synthase.