Carnitine depletion in rat pups of lactating mothers given sodium pivalate

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pivalate administration in the pregnant and lactating rat upon tissue carnitine concentrations in 1- and 5-day-old rat pups, as well as in the lactating rats. At 17 days of gestation, 5 rats began receiving 20 mmol/l sodium pivalate in their drinking water, while an additional 5 rats (control) received equimolar NaHCO3. There were no significant differences in litter size, or in pup weights at day 1 (p > 0.05). However, the pups from the pivalate group did weigh significantly less at 5 days of age relative to the control group. Neonatal rats in the pivalate group had significantly depressed levels of total carnitine in plasma, heart and liver, relative to the control group, at both 1 and 5 days of age. Similar depressions were noted for the lactating rats from the pivalate group. This study demonstrates the utility of pivalate administration in depressing carnitine concentrations in newborn rats.