[The beneficial effect of L-carnitine in rat renal ischemia-reperfusion injury].

BACKGROUND

We examined the effect of L-carnitine on experimental renal ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury.

METHODS

Seventy-two Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups, four of which underwent right nephrectomy and left renal I-R for 60 min (groups 2 and 4) and 90 min (groups 3 and 5). The sham operated group (n=8) was left as controls. Intraperitoneal carnitine (200 mg/kg) was given to groups 4 and 5 three hours before operation. For histopathologic studies, half of the rats in the study groups (n=8) and the remaining rats were sacrificed 15 min and seven days after reperfusion, respectively. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine levels were also measured at 15 min and on Day 3 and Day 7.

RESULTS

Concerning the 90 min I-R groups, survival was improved in carnitine-treated rats (7/8 vs 5/8). Of untreated groups, the 90 min I-R group exhibited significantly higher BUN (p=0.0023) and serum creatinine (p=0.0086) levels on Day 3. Although BUN and serum creatinine levels did not show significant differences between carnitine-treated and untreated rats in the two 60 min I-R groups throughout the study period, carnitine-treated rats in the 90 min I-R group exhibited significantly improved BUN (p=0.0063) and serum creatinine (p=0.0013) levels on Day 3. The severity of histopathologic changes was lower in all carnitine-treated rats 15 min after reperfusion. On Day 7, the mean histopathologic score was significantly lower in carnitine-treated rats in the 90 min I-R group than that of untreated rats exposed to I-R injury of same duration (p=0.0078).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that L-carnitine has beneficial effects on renal function, histopathologic changes, and survival in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.