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Protective effects of carnitine in an experimental ischemia-reperfusion injury
1Department of Surgery, Dokuz Eylül University Medical School Hospital Izmir, Turkey.
Background/Aims:
We aimed to determine the role of exogenous carnitine to prevent ischemia-reperfusion damage in liver tissue in experimental model.
Methods:
Rats were divided into four groups as Sham (SG), 30% Hepatectomy (HG), ischemia-reperfusion +30% hepatectomy (IRHG) and ischemia-reperfusion+30% hepatectomy+carnitine (IRHCG). Serum AST, ALT and GGT levels have been determined in systemic blood samples (post-hepatic vena cava) and liver tissue and serum carnitine levels in blood samples from portal vein (pre-hepatic blood samples).
Results:
Serum carnitine levels were significantly higher in IRHCG compared to SG (P < 0.01). Each of the serum AST, ALT and GGT levels were statistically higher in HG, IRHG and IRHCG than SG (P < 0.001). While these values in IRHG were also higher than those in HG (P < 0.001), in IRHCG enzyme levels were significantly lower than IRHG (P < 0.001). Liver tissue damage was less in IRHCG than IRHG statistically (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
This animal model implies that exogenous carnitine supplementation may be helpful in preventing free oxygen radical damage and inflammatory reactions in liver tissue.