Vitamin C prevents DNA damage induced by renovascular hypertension in multiple organs of Wistar rats

Author(s)

Nishi, Erika Emy ^[1] ; Campos, Ruy Ribeiro ^[1] ; Bergamaschi, Cassia Toledo ^{[2, 1]} ; de Almeida, Vitor Rossi ^[2] ; Ribeiro, Daniel Araki ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, UNIFESP, Dept Physiol, Paulista Med Sch, Cardiovasc Div, Santos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, UNIFESP, Dept Biosci, Santos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: HUMAN & EXPERIMENTAL TOXICOLOGY; v. 29, n. 7, p. 593-599, JUL 2010.
• Web of Science Citations: 17

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate, through the single-cell gel (comet) assay, whether vitamin C is able to protect against renovascular hypertension-induced genotoxicity in multiple organs. A total of 32 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: negative control (n = 6); animals treated with vitamin C (n = 6); hypertensive rats (n = 10) and hypertensive rats and treated with vitamin C (n = 10). Hypertension was induced as a result of partial obstruction of the left renal artery by means of a silver clip during 6 weeks. Vitamin C was administered at 150 mg/kg during 7 consecutive days before the end of the experimental period. The results showed that vitamin C was able to protect blood cells against hypertension-induced genotoxicity. Brain, liver and heart cells were also protected by vitamin C following hypertension-induced genotoxic damage. Regarding blood pressure, vitamin C reduced the hypertensive state. In conclusion, our results suggest that vitamin C can prevent hypertension-induced DNA damage in blood, liver, brain and heart cells as well as to normalize the blood pressure of rats. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/01228-4 - Medium-term oral carcinogenesis assay induced by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide in rats: putative biomarkers involved into its pathogenesis
• Grantee: Daniel Araki Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants