Abstract

Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is a common cause of brain injury in infants. Acute kidney injury frequently occurs after birth asphyxia and is associated with adverse outcome. Treatment with acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) after HI protects brain and improves outcome. Rat pups underwent carotid ligation and 75min hypoxia on postnatal day 7 to determine effects of HI on kidney which is understudied in this model. HI + ALCAR pups were treated at 0, 4 and 24h after HI. The organic cation/carnitine transporter 2 (OCTN2), transports ALCAR and functions to reabsorb carnitine and acylcarnitines from urine. At 24h after injury OCTN2 levels were significantly decreased in kidney from HI pups, 0.80 ± 0.04 (mean± SEM,p < 0.01), compared to sham controls 1.03 ± 0.04, and HI + ALCAR pups 1.11 ± 0.06. The effect of HI on the level of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) was determined since kidney has high energy requirements. At 24h after HI, kidney PDH/β-actin ratios were significantly lower in HI pups, 0.98 ± 0.05 (mean ± SEM,p < 0.05), compared to sham controls 1.16 ± 0.06, and HI + ALCAR pups 1.24 ± 0.03, p < 0.01. Treatment of pups with ALCAR after HI prevented the decrease in renal OCTN2 and PDH levels at 24h after injury. Protection of PDH and OCTN2 after HI would improve energy metabolism in kidney, maintain tissue carnitine levels and overall carnitine homeostasis which is essential for neonatal health.

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