Effects of L-arginine and L-carnitine in hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced intestinal injury.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to show the role of oxidative stress, nitric oxide and glutathione-related antioxidant enzymes in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced intestinal injury model in mice and to evaluate the potential benefits of arginine and carnitine supplementation.


METHODS
A total of 28 young Balb/c mice were divided into four groups: Group 1 (untreated) was given physiological saline before the experiment; group 2 H/R mice were supplemented with L-arginine; group 3 H/R mice were given L-carnitine for 7 days; and group 4 mice served as controls. At the end of day 7, H/R injury was induced and intestinal tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrate levels and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were measured.


RESULTS
MDA levels were higher in the untreated animals than in the other three groups. MDA levels were higher in the L-arginine-treated animals than in the L-carnitine-treated animals. Nitrate levels were found to be increased in the L-arginine-treated group when compared to the controls. GSH-Px and GR activities were increased in the untreated, the L-arginine and the L-carnitine-treated H/R groups when compared to the control group. GST activities were indifferent between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of H/R-induced intestinal injury. The glutathione redox cycle may have a crucial role in the H/R-induced intestinal injury. L-arginine and L-carnitine supplementations ameliorate the histological evidence of H/R-induced intestinal injury and decrease lipid peroxidation but do not alter the glutathione-related antioxidant enzyme activities.
Kabaroglu
Ceyda
C
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey. ceyda@med.ege.edu.tr
Akisu
Mete
M
Habif
Sara
S
Mutaf
Isil
I
Turgan
Nevbahar
N
Parildar
Zuhal
Z
Ozmen
Dilek
D
Bayindir
Oya
O
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018384:Oxidative Stress
D008315:Malondialdehyde; D001120:Arginine; D002331:Carnitine