Effect of chronic stress and L-carnitine on rat stomach.
OBJECTIVE
L-Carnitine is an essential cofactor in the mitochondrial transfer of fatty acids, and it is also a scavenger of free radicals in mammalian tissues. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of L-carnitine on chronic restraint stress-induced gastric mucosal injury.


METHODS
Wistar rats were applied restraint stress (1 h/day) and L-carnitine (50 mg/kg) for 21 days. The lesion index, prostaglandin E(2) and mucus content, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity in gastric mucosa were evaluated.


RESULTS
Chronic restraint stress increased the lesion index, lipid peroxidation, and superoxide dismutase activity in gastric mucosa, and it decreased prostaglandin E(2) and mucus content. L-Carnitine treatment prevented the stress-induced increase in lesion index, lipid peroxidation and a stress-induced decline in prostaglandin E(2), and mucus content in gastric mucosa, but it increased catalase activity.


CONCLUSIONS
L-Carnitine prevents the occurrence of lesion by strengthening the gastric mucosal barrier and by reducing lipid peroxidation against the harmful effects of chronic restraint stress.
Izgüt-Uysal
V Nimet
VN
Department of Physiology, Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey. nimetu@akdeniz.edu.tr
Bülbül
Mehmet
M
Tan
Ruken
R
Derin
Narin
N
Ustünel
Ismail
I
Ağar
Aysel
A
Yargiçoğlu
Piraye
P
D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002374:Catalase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D015232:Dinoprostone; D002331:Carnitine