L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, a phosphate derivative of L-ascorbic acid, enhances the growth of cultured rabbit keratocytes.

We examined the effect of L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (P-Asc) on the proliferation of cultured rabbit keratocytes. P-Asc is a phosphate derivative of L-ascorbic acid and has more prolonged vitamin C activity in solution than does L-ascorbic acid. The proliferation of cultured keratocytes was promoted by the presence of P-Asc in culture medium. Transmission electron microscopic observations revealed that cells were more multi-layered after culture in the presence of P-Asc (0.1 mM) for 30 days than were those cultured in the absence of P-Asc. The effect of P-Asc was abrogated by L-azetidine 2-carboxylic acid, which is an analogue of proline that inhibits the production and secretion of collagen. Our observations support a therapeutic role for P-Asc in the repair of corneal stromal damage such as that caused by a corneal chemical burn.