THE EFFECT OF L-ASCORBIC-ACID ON AGE-RELATED-CHANGES OF PYRIDINOLINE IN CARTILAGE COLLAGEN OF GUINEA-PIGS

In order to elucidate the effect of L-ascorbic acid (AsA) on the forma tion of pyridinoline, a mature crosslink of collagen, its content in c artilage collagen of guinea pigs supplemented with and without AsA in the growing process (4-8 weeks of age) and in the period of maturity ( 10-14 weeks of age) was examined. The AsA-deficient animals, for four weeks during the growing process, had a significantly higher content o f pyridinoline in their collagen than the AsA-supplemented group, indi cating that the depletion of AsA induced increasing contents of pyridi noline. On the other hand, in the period of maturity, the pyridinoline content in the collagen decreased with age, whereas no difference bet ween AsA-deficient and -supplemented groups was observed. Based on the se results, it is assumed that AsA affects the formation of pyridinoli ne, especially in the growing period.