Ascorbic acid inhibition of Na,K-adenosine triphosphatase of rat forebrain without peroxidation of membrane lipids.

Using reagents and membrane preparations from which contamination had been carefully removed, we found that ascorbic acid inhibited rat brain Na,K-ATPase without causing lipid peroxidation, unlike the conventional belief; the inhibition was prevented by catecholamines and EGTA. Ascorbic acid radicals, instead of active oxygen, may play a role in the inhibition.