Evaluation of the effect of acetyl L-carnitine on experimental cisplatin nephrotoxicity.
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.
Tufekci
Ozlem
O
Departments of Pediatrics, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
Gunes
Dilek
D
Ozoğul
Candan
C
Kolatan
Efsun
E
Altun
Zekiye
Z
Yilmaz
Osman
O
Aktaş
Safiye
S
Erbayraktar
Zübeyde
Z
Kirkim
Günay
G
Mutafoğlu
Kamer
K
Soylu
Alper
A
Serbetçioğlu
Bülent
B
Güneri
Enis Alpin
EA
Olgun
Nur
N
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
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D003404:Creatinine; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D002945:Cisplatin