Protection of the retina from ischemia-reperfusion injury by L-carnitine in guinea pigs.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of L-carnitine in preventing retinal injury followed by ischemia-reperfusion.


METHODS
The eyes of 34 guinea pigs were used in this experiment. The guinea pigs were divided into two groups: the first group (n=17) was given L-carnitine intraperitoneally (500 mg/kg) and second group (n=17) received the same dose of saline solution. Under general anesthesia, peritomy was performed. Retro-orbital tissues were ligated for 90 minutes and ischemia was induced, followed by 4 hours of reperfusion. One of the enucleated eye was stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and retinal thicknesses were evaluated. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were determined in the retina of the other eye.


RESULTS
Mean TBARS levels in retinal tissue were found lower in L-carnitine group (2.77 +/- 0.55 microM) than in the control group (6.57 +/- 1.19 microM), (p<0.01). On the other hand, mean retinal thickness was found to be increased in the control group (47.47 +/- 5.62 microm) when compared to the L-carnitine group (26.52 +/- 4.65 microm), (p<0.01). In correlation analysis, significantly positive relationships were found between retinal TBARS level and retinal thickness both in the control and L-carnitine groups (r=0.981, p<0.01 and r= 0.967, p<0.01 respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
L-carnitine is effective in preventing retinal injury followed by ischemia-reperfusion.
Kocer
I
I
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey. ikocer25@hotmail.com
Kulacoglu
D
D
Altuntas
I
I
Gundogdu
C
C
Gullulu
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002331:Carnitine