Ascorbic acid enhances nitric oxide production in trabecular meshwork cells.

PURPOSE

This study investigated the role of ascorbic acid on the production of nitric oxide (NO) in the trabecular meshwork (TM) cells.

METHODS

After primarily cultured human TM cells were exposed to 1, 10, and 100 microM of L-ascorbic acid (LAA), with or without co-administration of 1 mM sodium nitroprusside or 100 microM hydrogen peroxide for 48 hr, cellular survival and NO production were measured with MTT and Griess assay, respectively.

RESULTS

LAA significantly potentiated NO production in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05) without affecting cell viability. LAA increased cell viability after hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner. LAA enhanced NO production in TM cells and showed a cytoprotective effect against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress.

CONCLUSIONS

LAA might be involved in the regulation of trabecular outflow by enhancing NO production in TM cells.