title: Effect of chronic stress and L-carnitine on rat stomach.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey. nimetu@akdeniz.edu.tr
authors.forename: V Nimet
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Izgüt-Uysal
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bülbül
authors.forename: Ruken
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Narin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Derin
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ustünel
authors.forename: Aysel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ağar
authors.forename: Piraye
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yargiçoğlu
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D015232:Dinoprostone; D002331:Carnitine