Hepatotoxicity in rat following administration of valproic acid: effect of L-carnitine supplementation.
The effect of prolonged administration (7 days) of valproate (VPA, 500 mg/kg/day), or VPA (500 mg/kg/day) with L-carnitine (200 mg/kg/day) on blood carnitine levels and the appearance of liver mitochondria were assessed in the rat. VPA-treated rats showed hypocarnitinemia and enlarged mitochondria when compared with saline-injected control rats. In rats treated with both VPA and L-carnitine, serum and liver carnitine levels were increased by the L-carnitine supplement and the liver mitochondria were not enlarged. L-Carnitine supplement in VPA-medicated patients seems to prevent hepatotoxicity, especially mitochondrial dysfunction.
D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008933:Mitochondrial Swelling / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*
D014635:Valproic Acid; D002331:Carnitine