Pulmonary oxygen toxicity in mice is characterized by alterations in ascorbate redox status

Pulmonary oxygen toxicity results from disruption of the usual antioxidant defenses of the body. We therefore investigated whether mice that suffer from oxygen toxicity show significant alterations in the redox status of ascorbate, an important antioxidant, as reflected by changes in the relative amounts of its oxidized and reduced forms. Mice were exposed to air or hyperoxia (> 97% O2, 760 mmHg). After 5 days, plasma and saline-perfused lungs were removed and levels of ascorbate (AA), oxidized ascorbate [dehydroascorbate (DHAA)], and total ascorbate species ([AA+DHAA]) were determined by a sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatography assay; lungs were also assayed for total glutathione and glutathione disulfide (GSSG), an established marker of oxidative stress. We found that with hyperoxic exposure plasma AA increased by 32%, plasma DHAA increased substantially from previously undetectable levels, and the DHAA-to-[AA+DHAA] ratio increased. In contrast, in lung, [AA+DHAA] decreased by 41%. Plasma AA, DHAA, and [AA+DHAA] each correlated inversely with lung [AA+DHAA] and directly with lung GSSC. We conclude that alterations in plasma ascorbate redox status reflect pulmonary oxygen toxicity in mice. Our results suggest that further investigations are warranted to determine whether similar findings occur in humans and have clinical utility.