Inhibitory effect of l-ascorbic acid on the growth of astrocytes in cell culture.

The effect of l-ascorbic acid on the growth of astrocytic cells in culture was investigated. l-Ascorbic acid produced a concentration-dependent reduction of the growth of astrocytes, both in normal and tumor cells. The effect of l-ascorbic acid was similar to that of the relative acidification of the medium, except in treated concentrations greater than 10(-6) M. The effects produced by both l- and d-forms of ascorbic acid were the same. The inhibitory effect of l-ascorbic acid at greater concentrations was partially prevented by oxidized glutathione and increased by the large concentration of reduced glutathione. This result suggests that l-ascorbic acid possesses the ability to inhibit the growth of astrocytic cells in culture through the acidification of the medium at small concentrations and/or the antioxidative properties of this compound at larger concentrations.