A cerebroprotective dose of intravenous citrate/sorbitol-stabilized dehydroascorbic acid is correlated with increased cerebral ascorbic acid and inhibited lipid peroxidation after murine reperfused stroke.

OBJECTIVE

Oxidative damage has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia. We previously demonstrated that exogenously supplied dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), an oxidized, blood-brain barrier transportable form of the antioxidant ascorbic acid (AA), improves outcome after experimental stroke.

METHODS

To investigate the neuroprotective effect of DHA therapy, we measured cerebral AA levels using a novel assay, quantified markers of lipid peroxidation, and evaluated infarct volume after reperfused stroke in a murine model. All experiments were performed using a new citrate/sorbitol-stabilized DHA formulation to improve the stability of the compound.

RESULTS

Intraparenchymal AA levels declined after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and were repleted in a dose-dependent fashion by postischemic administration of intravenous DHA (P < 0.01). Repletion of these levels was associated with reductions in cerebral malondialdehyde levels (P < 0.05), which were also elevated after reperfused stroke. DHA repletion of interstitial AA levels and reduction in cerebral lipid peroxidation was associated with dose-dependent reductions in infarct volume (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these results indicate that an intravenous cerebroprotective dose of citrate/sorbitol-stabilized DHA is correlated with increased brain ascorbate levels and a suppression of excessive oxidative metabolism.