Hypoxia-induced lipid peroxidation in rat brain and protective effect of carnitine and phosphocreatine.
The exposure to hypobaric hypoxia increased lipid peroxidation as indicated by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances [TBARS] in rat brain. Plasma lactate/pyruvate ratio was used as a marker of hypoxia. We compared the protective effect of alpha-tocopherol with the effect of L-carnitine or phosphocreatine. Rats pretreated with alpha-tocopherol, L-carnitine, or phosphocreatine had lower TBARS levels after the exposure to hypobaric hypoxia. However, lactate/ pyruvate ratio was improved only in rats pretreated with L-carnitine or phosphocreatine. We conclude from our data that, contrary to alpha-tocopherol, protective effects of L-carnitine and phosphocreatine administrations are due to their regulation of metabolic reactions during hypobaric hypoxia rather than to their scavenger activity.
Rauchová
Hana
H
Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague. rauchova@biomed.cas.cz
Koudelová
Jitka
J
Drahota
Zdenĕk
Z
Mourek
Jindrich
J
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D010725:Phosphocreatine; D002331:Carnitine