Effect of oral L-carnitine on its concentration in the plasma of yearling Thoroughbred horses.
After an oral dose of 10 g of L-carnitine the plasma concentrations of free and total carnitine increased in five yearling thoroughbred horses, reaching a peak two to four hours after administration, but in two horses there was no increase. In the five which responded, the mean (+/- sd) peak increase in total carnitine concentration was 15.1 +/- 6.9 mumol/litre from a predose mean of 18.8 +/- 3.4 mumol/litre, and the mean peak increase in free carnitine concentration was 13.5 +/- 3.1 mumol/litre from a pre-dose mean concentration of 12.5 +/- 2.2 mumol/litre. These changes were similar to those observed previously in a group of adult thoroughbred horses given 10 g of L-carnitine. There was no consistent pattern of change in the concentration of acetylcarnitine in the seven yearling horses.
Department of Comparative Physiology, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk.
C V
CV
Foster
R C
RC
Harris
E J
EJ
Pouret
D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000097:blood; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood*; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male
D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine