The Role of Carnitine in Preventing Renal Damage Developed as a Result of Infrarenal Aortic Ischemia–Reperfusion

Abstract

Background: This study was designed to use carnitine for preventing deposition of end products of lipid peroxidation in rat models in the prevention of ischemia-reperfusion (IR) damage frequently seen following operations of infrarenal abdominal aorta (AA). Methods: Forty male rats of Sprague-Dawley type were evenly (n = 8) randomized to five groups: sham laparotomy (SHAM), carnitine control (CC), aortic IR (AIR), AIR + low-dose carnitine (AIR+LDC), and AIR + high-dose carnitine (AIR+HDC). Results: Compared to other groups, serum creatinine levels of AIR group were significantly higher. Also tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of AIR group were significantly higher compared to SHAM, CC, and AIR+HDC groups. In histopathological examination, although tubular necrosis atrophy and tubular degeneration observed in AIR group showed regression with low-dose carnitine, tubular necrosis atrophy, tubular degeneration, glomerular damage, and vascular congestion thrombosis decreased with high-dose carnitine. Total score of histological damage was significantly higher in AIR, AIR+LDC, and AIR+HDC groups compared to SHAM and CC groups. Moreover, total score of histological damage was significantly lower in AIR+HDC group than AIR+LDC group. Conclusions: In this study, we showed carnitine can partially prevent renal damage in infrarenal AIR models of rats. This result may open new prospects to us in the prevention of renal IR damage during surgery of aorta.

The effect of carnitine on preservation of renal cold ischemia in rats

“…Some researchers also found that carnitine is effective in renal ischemia injury2,3, prevent early graft dysfunction4 and is partially preventing renal damage developed as a result of ischemia reperfusion5. Carnitine is also combinated with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxyamide ribonucleoside that enhancing energy metabolism and provides a novel modality to treat renal ischemia/reperfusion injury16.…”

“…In the prevention of injury after ischemia many antioxidants and free radical scavengers such as carnitine, a water-soluble quaternary ammonium structure and naturally present in the cells of animal origin, have protective effect on renal ischemia injury2,3. Carnitine also prevents early graft dysfunction4 and is partially preventing renal damage developed as a result of ischemia reperfusion5. This present study was performed to investigate the any actual benefit of the carnitine alone or in conjuction with other cold preservation solutions.…”