Effect of L[plus]ascorbic acid on in vitro biosynthesis of nitric oxide in hepatocytes during oxidant homeostasis changed by nitrates

The effect of L(+)ascorbic acid and/or sodium nitrate in nitric oxide production by hepatocytes in vitro was studied. It was demonstrated that the compounds added into an incubation medium stimulated nitric oxide production in hepatocytes. The highest concentration of nitric oxide was assayed after the incubation of the cells with sodium nitrate and L(+)ascorbic acid. It was found that the addition of L(+)ascorbic acid to isolated hepatocytes supplemented with sodium nitrate resulted in time-dependent increase in nitric oxide production in the hepatocytes. We can suppose that the nitric oxide production in hepatocytes may be the result of defence against oxidative stress induced by L(+)ascorbic acid and sodium nitrate.