title: L-carnitine has a protective effect on the colonic mucosa during abdominopelvic radiotherapy in rats.
abstract: To evaluate histopathologically the radioprotective effect of L-carnitine on the colonic mucosa in rats undergoing abdominopelvic irradiation.
  Thirty-two rats were randomly assigned to four experimental groups: intraperitoneal administration of normal saline (group 1) or L-carnitine (300 mL/kg; group 2), followed in groups 3 and 4, respectively, by one dose of abdominopelvic radiation (20 Gy) 30 min later. Rats were sacrificed 5 days after radiation, and their descending colons were resected for histopathological evaluation of the presence and severity of damage.
  Average damage scores did not differ significantly between groups 1 and 2 (0.13 ± 0.35 and 0.25 ± 0.46, respectively); the group 3 score was highest (10.25 ± 0.71), and the group 4 score (3.63 ± 1.41) was significantly lower than that of group 3 (both p = 0.0001). Pre-radiation L-carnitine administration significantly reduced mucosal thinning, crypt distortion, reactive atypia, inflammation, cryptitis, and reactive lymph-node hyperplasia (all p < 0.01).
  L-carnitine had a radioprotective effect on rat colonic mucosa. L-carnitine use should be explored for patients with gastrointestinal cancer, who have reduced serum L-carnitine levels.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey. Conception and design of the study, technical procedures, manuscript writing, final approval.
authors.forename: Sukru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tas
authors.affiliation: Associated Professor, Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey. Scientific and intellectual content of the study, statistical analysis.
authors.forename: Omer Faruk
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey. Acquisition of data, manuscript writing.
authors.forename: Oztekin
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cikman
authors.affiliation: Specialist Doctor, Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey. Histopathological examinations, manuscript writing, critical revision.
authors.forename: Asli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiraz
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey. Analysis and interpretation of data, manuscript preparation, critical revision.
authors.forename: Yilmaz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akgun
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey. Conception and design of the study, critical revision.
authors.forename: Muammer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karaayvaz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D002331:Carnitine