Renal carnitine concentration decreases in endotoxic dogs.
METHODS
Renal cortical and serum carnitine concentrations were studied in seven anesthetized beagle dogs in which acute circulatory collapse was induced by an iv injection of Escherichia coli endotoxin, 0.5 mg/kg given over 15 mins. Four controls received normal saline.


RESULTS
The endotoxin injection resulted in cardiac depression, renal hypoperfusion, acidosis with a decrease in urinary output, and hematuria. Arterial and renal venous free carnitine concentrations increased significantly in endotoxemia during the 5-hr experiment, but remained low and unchanged in the controls. Circulating acyl-carnitine concentrations underwent no essential changes in either group. Total, free, and acyl-carnitine concentrations decreased in endotoxic renal tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that endotoxemia decreases carnitine concentrations in the renal cortex, but increases free carnitine concentrations in the circulation.
Gullichsen
E
E
Department of Surgery, University of Turku, Finland.
Heinonen
O J
OJ
Nelimarkka
O
O
Kuttila
K
K
Niinikoski
J
J
D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D004285:Dogs; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D012079:Renal Circulation; D014115:Toxemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology
D004731:Endotoxins; D002331:Carnitine