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.
Atila
K
K
Department of Surgery, Dokuz Eylül University Medical School Hospital Izmir, Turkey.
Coker
A
A
Sagol
O
O
Coker
I
I
Topalak
O
O
Astarcioglu
H
H
Karademir
S
S
Astarcioglu
I
I
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