The effect of carnitine on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy

The role of carnitine in liver regeneration. Can carnitine given externally increase and/or fasten the beginning of liver regeneration?

Wistar Albino rats were used. Group 1: The group, which was applied parenteral carnitine after partial hepatectomy and sacrificed on the 1st day. Group 2: The group, which was applied parenteral carnitine after partial hepatectomy and sacrificed on the 7th day. Group 3: The group, which wasn't applied parenteral carnitine after partial hepatectomy and sacrificed in the 1st day. Group 4: The group which wasn't applied parenteral carnitne after partial hepatectomy and sacrificed on the 7th day. To all the rats, partial liver resection with the rate of 70 % was applied. Being started shortly after the resection, 100 mg/kg/day parenteral L-carnitine was applied to the first and second group. On the 1st and 7th days after the resection, eight subjects from each group were sacrificed. To evaluate the liver regeneration Ki-67 monoclonal antibody was used. After the examinations carried out by pathological clinic, detected mitosis number were examined. The 1st and 7th day mitosis number of the rats taken into the study was seen as statistically significantly higher than the mitosis number of the rats in the control group.

As a result, among the rats, which were applied hepatectomy, if met by the major conditions triggering liver regeneration following the external carnitine supplementation, we can say with the help of the information provided by the study measuring the regeneration capacity by analysing Ki-67 proliferation index, that external carnitine support can increase the capacity of regeneration if it is given in appropriate dose (Tab. 6, Fig. 7, Ref. 17).