Background
L-Gulonolactone oxidase-deficient mice (Gulo(−/−)) were used to study the effects of ascorbate deficiency on aortic relaxation and lowering of blood pressure by nitroglycerin (GTN). Special emphasis was given to changes in expression and activity of vascular aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2), which has been recently characterized as key enzyme of vascular GTN bioactivation.