Effect of methanol on endogenous and exogenous carnitine levels in rat plasma.
The effect of methanol on the levels of endogenous carnitine and its derivatives was studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats aged three months. In addition, the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on metabolic disturbances caused by methanol intoxication was studied. The rats were randomized into six groups, including two control groups. Methanol was given at 1/4 LD(50) and 1/2 LD(50)/kg b.w. (or water in control) through an intragastric tube, and L-carnitine (or 0.9% NaCl in the control) was injected intraperitoneally. The levels of plasma L-carnitine and its derivatives were measured at selected time points for four days. Following methanol administration, the rats exhibited dose-dependent increases in L-carnitine levels and altered ratios of L-carnitine and its derivatives. L-carnitine supplementation accelerated the normalization of metabolic disturbances, as indicated by the acylcarnitine to free carnitine ratio (AC/FC). The protective effect of L-carnitine is supported by the fact that 100% of the methanol-treated rats supplemented with carnitine survived, while 8/60 rats and 27/101 rats died at methanol doses of 1/4 LD(50) and 1/2 LD(50), respectively, in groups without L-carnitine supplementation.
Olszowy
Zofia
Z
Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland. medsad@slam.katowice.pl
Czech
Ewa
E
Nowicka
Joanna
J
D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006207:Half-Life; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D000432:Methanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016019:Survival Analysis
C116917:acylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine; D000432:Methanol