In this study, we evaluated the effect of an analogue of L-carnitine on parameters involved with Metabolic Syndrome in obese Zucker rats. Twenty-four rats were treated for 5 weeks with L-carnitine (300 mg/kg) and its analogue at two concentrations (100 and 250 mg/kg) to assess their impact on glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol in liver and blood samples, as well as the amount of liver glycogen. Liver slices were also analysed. The analogue reduced the levels of glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol in liver and the level of triglycerides in serum. At 100 mg/kg, the analogue proved more effective than L-carnitine in improving the biochemical alterations present in liver. The amount of liver glycogen content was higher in obese animals treated with both L-carnitine and the analogue. No changes on insulin and leptin were observed in animals treated. L-carnitine and its analogue reduced the microvesicular fatty infiltration in liver. This study demonstrated that the analogue tested is more potent and efficient than L-carnitine and improves the pharmacological profile of L-carnitine.Metabolic syndrome, syndrome 'X' or insulin resistance syndrome has been the focus of attention during the past 80 years [1]. Its importance lies in its multiple, interrelated risk factors for metabolic origin, which can lead to the development of diseases such as atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, high blood pressure, elevated plasma glucose, prothrombotic state and pro-inflammatory state [2]. Other factors associated with metabolic syndrome are abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) [3]. The main causes for the increase in the disease are obesity and diabetes mellitus among populations with a sedentary life pattern [4,5].L-carnitine is synthesized by mammals as a result of the synthesis of amino acids such as lysine or methionine and is also obtained from the diet [6,7]. Carnitine is an essential factor in transporting the long-chain fatty acids (acyl CoA) from the cytoplasm into the mitochondria where the beta-oxidation takes place [8]. A large body of evidence suggests that carnitine and its derivatives acetyl-L-carnitine and propionyl-L-carnitine enhance glucose utilization by stimulating the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex [9], which is a key enzymatic complex in glucose oxidation, because intramitochondrial acetyl-CoA can be converted with carnitine into acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) via the carnitine acetyltransferase that is then transported out of the mitochondria [10]. L-Carnitine is an amine key substrate in a family of carnitine acyltransferases, transferred reversibly between active units of acyl carnitine and co-enzyme A to preserve homoeostasis for a wide range of traffic that are crucial for acyl intermediary metabolism and cellular regulation [11].Various analogues of L-carnitine have been synthesized to study their mode of action and the structural features of their binding sites [12,13]. The phosphorus analogues of naturally occurring amino ac...
Our aim was to compare analogue A21 vs amphotericin B (AmB) in a mouse model of candidiasis. For the study, we used male Balb/c mice, which were randomly divided into six groups: control, candidiasis, AmB Indofine 4mg/kg, AmB Abelcet®, analogue A21 4 mg/kg and analogue A21 12 mg/kg. Candidiasis model was carried out by inoculated 5×107UFC/mL of Candida albicans 10231 yest P.O., 23 days after the treatment was given for the group along two weeks. Mice were sacrificed and liver, small intestine, lung and kidney were collected and then sectioned and fixed in phosphate‐buffered 4% formaldehyde for histological analysis. Samples were stained with hematoxylin‐eosin. Tissues with candidiasis showed alterations in their structures, in kidney, the number of glomeruli and tubules were decreased, while in the liver showed necrosis and apoptosis areas, also in intestine and lung showed alteration on their architecture. The analogue A21 at two concentrations impoved the structure of lungs and intestine, in kidney improved the structure and increase the number of glomeruli as AmB, in liver improved the structure at 12mg/kg. In conclusion, the analogue A21 improves the structure of tissues damaged by candidiasis like amphotericinB.
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