Protective effects of carnitine in an experimental ischemia-reperfusion injury.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to determine the role of exogenous carnitine to prevent ischemia-reperfusion damage in liver tissue in experimental model.


METHODS
Rats were divided into four groups as Sham (SG), 30% Hepatectomy (HG), ischemia-reperfusion +30% hepatectomy (IRHG) and ischemia-reperfusion+30% hepatectomy+carnitine (IRHCG). Serum AST, ALT and GGT levels have been determined in systemic blood samples (post-hepatic vena cava) and liver tissue and serum carnitine levels in blood samples from portal vein (pre-hepatic blood samples).


RESULTS
Serum carnitine levels were significantly higher in IRHCG compared to SG (P < 0.01). Each of the serum AST, ALT and GGT levels were statistically higher in HG, IRHG and IRHCG than SG (P < 0.001). While these values in IRHG were also higher than those in HG (P < 0.001), in IRHCG enzyme levels were significantly lower than IRHG (P < 0.001). Liver tissue damage was less in IRHCG than IRHG statistically (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This animal model implies that exogenous carnitine supplementation may be helpful in preventing free oxygen radical damage and inflammatory reactions in liver tissue.
Department of Surgery, Dokuz Eylül University Medical School Hospital Izmir, Turkey.
K
K
Atila
A
A
Coker
O
O
Sagol
I
I
Coker
O
O
Topalak
H
H
Astarcioglu
S
S
Karademir
I
I
Astarcioglu
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002331:Carnitine / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*; D008102:Liver Circulation; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D002331:Carnitine