Ascorbic acid increases synaptosomal potassium-induced dopamine release

On synaptosomes prepared from striata of mice, increasing concentrations of ascorbic acid (from 0.01 mM to 0.5 mM) did not modify the 3H-dopamine uptake. However, at the 0.1 mM concentration, ascorbic acid increased the potassium-induced release of 3H-dopamine by synaptosomes previously loaded with the amine. This effect was dependent on the presence of Ca2+ in the superfusion medium and was not shared by dehydroascorbic acid (from 1 mM to 0.01 mM). This effect of ascorbic acid, which occurs in the range of its endogenous concentrations, suggests that it is a putative modulator of dopaminergic transmission.