ASCORBATE REDUCES GASTRIC BLEEDING AFTER HEMORRHAGIC-SHOCK AND RETRANSFUSION IN RATS

The rat gastric mucosa, superfused with 0.1 N HCl, was investigated fo llowing 15 min of hemorrhagic shock and 30 min of retransfusion after pretreatment with ascorbate (1 mg/100 g b.w. or 5 mg/100 g b.w.). The size of the ischemic areas and the amount of mucosal bleeding using Cr -51 labeling of red blood cells were assessed. Ischemic areas develope d during shock. Following retransfusion, bleedings occurred at the bor der zones between ischemic and surrounding circulated areas. Ascorbate in both doses protected the gastric mucosa by reducing the amount of bleeding following 30 min of retransfusion as well as by reducing the area of ischemia 5 min after retransfusion.