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Ascorbate inhibits edema in brain slices
B Brahma1, R E Forman, E E Stewart
1Department of Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York 10016, USA.
Journal of Neurochemistry
|February 29, 2000
Summary
Brain slices lose water and swell in ascorbate-free media. Ascorbate (an antioxidant) prevents this brain edema, which is linked to oxidative stress and glutamate receptor activation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Ascorbate (vitamin C) is a crucial antioxidant in the central nervous system (CNS), primarily found in neuronal cytosol.
- Mammalian brain slices rapidly lose ascorbate when deprived of it in vitro, leading to water uptake and swelling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of ascorbate in preventing water gain and swelling in rat forebrain slices.
- To explore the mechanisms underlying ascorbate-dependent regulation of brain edema.
Main Methods:
- Coronal slices of rat forebrain were incubated for 1-3 hours at 34°C in media with or without ascorbate.
- Water content was measured to quantify swelling.
- The effects of antioxidants (isoascorbate, thiourea), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and receptor blockers (NMDA, non-NMDA) were assessed.
Main Results:
- Slices progressively gained water in ascorbate-free media, showing a significant 12% increase after 3 hours.
- Inclusion of 400 μM ascorbate prevented water gain and increased tissue ascorbate levels.
- Isoascorbate and thiourea did not inhibit water gain, while H2O2 exacerbated it.
- Glutamate receptor blockers inhibited edema formation similarly to ascorbate.
Conclusions:
- Brain edema in vitro is linked to intracellular oxidative stress and glutamate-receptor activation.
- Ascorbate effectively prevents brain edema by mitigating oxidative stress.
- These findings highlight ascorbate's critical role in maintaining brain tissue integrity.