Effect of vitamin C on hepatic drug metabolism in hypoxia/reoxygenation

It has been hypothesized that formation of oxygen-derived free radicals may play an important part in ischemically induced tissue injury. In this study, the effects of vitamin C treatment on hepatic reperfusion model were investigated. Livers isolated from 18 hrs fasted rats were subjected to low flow hypoxia (1 $m\ell$/g liver/min, for 45min) followed by reoxygenation (for 30min). The perfusion medium used was Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (KHBB, pH 7.4) and vitamin C (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM) was added to perfusate. 7-Ethoxycoumarin was used as substrate of phase and metbolism. After hypoxia oxygen consumption significantly dropped but vitamin C 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mM treatments restored oxygen consumption to the level of control group. LDH and lipid peroxidation were not changed in all experimental groups. Oxidation, phase metabolism, significantly decreased following hypoxia but improved during reoxygenation. Vitamin C 0.25 mM treatment significantly improved the oxidation of 7-ethoxycoumarin during hypoxia and reoxygenation, but the oxidation significantly decreased by vitamin C 2.0 mM treatment. Similarly, sulfate conjugation decreased in hypoxic group, but this decrease was inhibited by vitamin C 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mM treatments. Our findings suggest that hypoxia/reoxygenation diminishes hepatic drug metabolizing function, vitamin C at concentration of 0.25-1.0 mM ameliorates but at higher concentration aggravates these hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced changes.