L-ascorbate 2-sulfate and mobilization of cholesterol from plaque deposited in rabbit aortas

• Published in: International journal for vitamin and nutrition research Vol. 47; no. 1; p. 62
• Main Authors: Finamore, F J, Feldman, R P, Serrano, L J, Cosgrove, G E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 1977
• Subjects: Animals; Aortic Diseases - prevention & control; Arteriosclerosis - prevention & control; Ascorbic Acid - administration & dosage; Ascorbic Acid - therapeutic use; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol - metabolism; Diet, Atherogenic; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Rabbits; Saline Solution, Hypertonic - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0300-9831

Rabbits were randomly assigned to two groups. Age and body weight distribution were equal in both groups. All animals were placed on a high cholesterol diet for 9 wk, then returned to a normal diet for 1 wk. At the end of this dietary regimen, one group of animals received subcutaneous injections of psysiological saline 3 times/day, 5 days/wk for 10 wk, and the other group recieved L-ascorbate 2-sulfate (0.37 mmole) according to the same timetable. On alternate weeks, the serum levels of total and free cholesterol were determined. After 10 wk of treatment the animals were killed; the plaques were excised from the aortas and examined for total mass and cholesterol content. We observed that, under these dietary conditions, L-ascorbate 2-sulfate does not mobilize cholesterol or its esters from preformed aortic plaque. However, we did observe that animals showing high cholesterol levels in their sera died prematurely when injected with L-ascorbate 2-sulfate. Gross and histopathological investigations of organs and tissues did not reveal any significant differences among the animals that died prematurely and those that survived to the termination of the experiment.