Effect of L-carnitine treatment on very low density lipoprotein kinetics in the hyperlipidemic rabbit.
This study examined the hypolipidemic effect of 4 weeks of L-carnitine treatment (170 mg/kg b.w./day) in New Zealand White rabbits fed a high fat diet (5% corn oil/0.5% cholesterol). Specifically, [3H] glycerol and [125I] very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) turnover studies were conducted to examine the effect of treatment on VLDL kinetics. The masses of plasma VLDL-triglycerides (VLDL-TG) and VLDL-apoprotein B (VLDL-apoB) were significantly increased by the high-fat diet. Four weeks of treatment with L-carnitine significantly reduced these masses. Kinetic analysis indicated that fat feeding reduced the fractional catabolic rates (FCRs) of VLDL-TG and VLDL-apoB relative to chow-fed controls. The transport of these VLDL components was not altered by the diet. L-carnitine treatment had no effect on the FCRs of VLDL-TG and VLDL-apoB or on the transport of VLDL-apoB. Yet, treatment significantly lowered the transport of VLDL-TG. These data indicate that the lipid-lowering effect of L-carnitine in this animal model was due, in part, to a decrease in the transport and not due to an alteration in the fractional catabolic rate of VLDL-TG.
Department of Pathology, Vancouver General Hospital, B.C., Canada.
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L
James
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AK
Bhuiyan
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D
Foster
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Seccombe
D000818:Animals; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000378:metabolism; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005990:Glycerol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D004041:Dietary Fats; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D005990:Glycerol; D002331:Carnitine