title: Protection by L-carnitine against radiation-induced ileal mucosal injury in the rat: pattern of oxidative stress, apoptosis and cytokines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we tested the effects of L-carnitine (LC) on radiation-induced ileal mucosal damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups. The control group received physiological saline intraperitoneally (i.p.). Radiation-1 and radiation-2 groups received whole-body X-irradiation of 8.3 Gy as a single dose. These groups were sacrificed at the 6th hour and 4th day after irradiation, respectively. The Radiation-1 + LC and the radiation-2 + LC groups received the same dose irradiation plus a daily dose of 200 mg/kg LC. LC was applied one day before and for four days after irradiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of serum monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) were significantly higher in the radiation groups when compared with the control. Treatment with LC decreased the serum MCP-1 and IFN-γ levels considerably. In the radiations groups, the Chiu score was significantly elevated compared with that of the control group. However, LC administered prior to the irradiation reduced the severity of mucosal damage. The number of apoptotic cells of the ileal crypt in the irradiated rats increased from the 6th hour after irradiation and then decreased at 4th day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data demonstrated that LC may be beneficial to radiation enteritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey. meryemakpolat@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Meryem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akpolat
authors.forename: Kanat
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gulle
authors.forename: Yeter
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Topcu-Tarladacalisir
authors.forename: Zehra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Safi Oz
authors.forename: Bekir Hakan
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Bakkal
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arasli
authors.forename: Ummuhani
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ozel Turkcu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D007082:Ileum / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D009195:Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D002331:Carnitine