Acceleration of the onset of liver regeneration by carnitine in partially hepatectomized rats.
Immediately and 6 h after removal of 70% of the liver tissue, rats were treated with L-carnitine (Carnitene, Sigma-Tau, Italy) and received an injection of 100, 200 or 1,000 mg/kg b.w. into their femoral vein. The control rats were given the same volume of saline solution. The rats were sacrificed 18, 21, 24 or 30 h after the operation. The development of liver regeneration was evaluated from the incorporation of 14C-thymidine into DNA and from the hepatocyte mitiotic activity. In rats given carnitine in a dose of 100 or 200 mg/kg b.w. significantly higher DNA specific activity values were found 18 and 21 h after partial hepatectomoy and higher hepatocyte mitotic activity values after 30 h. In rats given carnitine in a dose of 1,000 mg/kg b.w., DNA specific activity values 21 h after partial hepatectomy were lower than in the control group. We conclude that L-carnitine, in a dose of 100 or 200 mg/kg b.w. has an enhancing effect on the onset of liver regeneration after 70% hepatectomy.
Holecek
M
M
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Hradec Králové.
Simek
J
J
Zadák
Z
Z
Bláha
V
V
D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008940:Mitotic Index / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D004247:DNA; D002331:Carnitine