Effect of diet supplementation with l-carnitine on hepatic catabolism of l-alanine in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of chronic supplementation with l-carnitine (LCT) on hepatic catabolism of l-alanine.


METHODS
Two groups of male adult Wistar rats were used: 1) supplemented with LCT (1.2 mmol . kg-1 . d-1) dissolved in the drinking water (LCT group) and 2) control group (COG) without LCT supplementation. After one week of LCT supplementation livers from 24 h-fasted rats were perfused in situ and the production of glucose, urea, pyruvate, and l-lactate from l-alanine (5 mmol/L) were measured.


RESULTS
LCT decreased the production of glucose and urea from l-alanine. In agreement, pyruvate and l-lactate production from l-alanine were decreased. However, the supplementation with LCT did not show any significant effect on hepatic glucose production from pyruvate (5 mmol/L) and l-lactate (2 mmol/L).


CONCLUSIONS
LCT supplementation decreased the conversion of l-alanine
Gazola
Vilma A F G
VA
State University of Maring , SUM, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Maring , PR, 87020-900, Brazil.
Lopes
Gisele
G
Limeira
Daniel M
DM
Galletto
Ricardo
R
Gazola
Sebastiao
S
Curi
Rui
R
Bazotte
Roberto B
RB
D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005947:Glucose / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
D019344:Lactic Acid; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D014508:Urea; D005947:Glucose; D000409:Alanine; D002331:Carnitine