The influence of L-acetylcarnitine on reinnervation of the oculomotor nerve.
In guinea-pigs the oral administration of L-acetylcarnitine (L-AC) markedly favours the process of reinnervation of the oculomotor nerve sectioned at intracranial level. The gains of the horizontal and vertical vestibulo-ocular reflexes (HVOR, VVOR) were taken into consideration in testing the functional recovery of the nerve. As a consequence of the drug administration, 24 weeks after the operation the gains of the treated animals were higher than those of the controls. Reduction of misalignments of the stimulus-response orientation was also observed in treated animals as compared to the controls. This suggests that L-AC potentiates motor reinnervation by enhancing the nerve-growing processes and favouring a better consolidation of the appropriate neuromuscular synapses. The increased gain, and the improvement of the alignment in ocular responses, due to L-AC would allow for an increase of visual function during head movement by optimizing gaze stability.
Pettorossi
V E
VE
Institute of Human Physiology, University of Perugia, Italy.
Draicchio
F
F
Fernandez
E
E
Pallini
R
R
D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000187:drug effects; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D009802:Oculomotor Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / Q000187:drug effects
D000108:Acetylcarnitine