title: Evaluation of the effect of acetyl L-carnitine on experimental cisplatin nephrotoxicity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the protective effects of acetyl L-carnitine (ALCAR) on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats, and to gain insights into the possible protective mechanisms of ALCAR against nephrotoxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Group 1 was administered saline only, group 2 was administered ALCAR, group 3 was administered cisplatin, and group 4 was administered ALCAR prior to cisplatin. Rats were sacrificed after 72 h of cisplatin/saline infusion. Serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate values were obtained, and kidney samples were examined by light and electron microscopy. Apoptotic cell death and caspase-3, 8 and 9 activities were studied immunohistochemically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group 4, ALCAR administration resulted in an improvement in kidney function tests. Histopathological findings confirmed the biochemical data. Whilst the fusion of the foot processes of podocytes was observed in group 3, they were intact in group 4 on electron-microscopic examination. Apoptotic cell death and caspase-3, 8 and 9 activities were also decreased in group 4 compared to group 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antioxidative, antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties of ALCAR were supported by the findings that this agent improves kidney function tests and has the effects of tissue protection and inhibition of apoptosis in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tufekci
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gunes
authors.forename: Candan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozoğul
authors.forename: Efsun
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kolatan
authors.forename: Zekiye
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Altun
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Safiye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aktaş
authors.forename: Zübeyde
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Erbayraktar
authors.forename: Günay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kirkim
authors.forename: Kamer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mutafoğlu
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soylu
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Serbetçioğlu
authors.forename: Enis Alpin
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Güneri
authors.forename: Nur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Olgun
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000633:toxicity*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D003404:Creatinine; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D002945:Cisplatin