Reductive metabolism of ascorbic acid in the central nervous system.

Rat and feline brain and feline spinal cord were examined for the presence of semidehydroascorbate reductase (EC 1.6.5.

Loss of ascorbic acid from injured feline spinal cord.

Feline spinal cord contains 0.97 mM ascorbic acid, as measured by the dinitrophenylhydrazine method. Greater than 90% is maintained in the reduced form.