Acetyl-L-carnitine affects aged brain receptorial system in rodents.
Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR), the acetyl ester of carnitine, is regarded as a compound of considerable interest because of its capacity to counteract several physiological and pathological modifications typical of brain ageing processes. In particular, it has been demonstrated that ALCAR can counteract the age-dependent reduction of several receptors in the central nervous system of rodents, such as the NMDA receptorial system, the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) receptors, those of glucocorticoids, neurotransmitters and others, thereby enhancing the efficiency of synaptic transmission, which is considerably slowed down by ageing. The present review thus postulates the importance of ALCAR administration in preserving and/or facilitating the functionality of carnitines, the concentrations of which are diminished in the brain of old animals.
Castorina
M
M
Institute for Research on Senescence, Sigma-Tau, Pomezia, Rome, Italy.
Ferraris
L
L
D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D015220:Calcium Channels; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D000108:Acetylcarnitine