The role of L-carnitine in acetyl salicylic acid-induced acute gastric mucosal injury in rats

Abstract

<b>Introduction</b>: The aim of this study was to determine the protective effects of L-carnitine on acetyl salicylic acid (ASA)-induced acute gastric mucosal injury through oxidant/antioxidant parameters and histopathological alterations in rat gastric tissues.<br /> <b>Material and methods: </b> Forty-two rats were randomly assigned to six groups: The control group received 1 mg/kg distilled water, while the other groups were pretreated with L-carnitine 50 mg/kg/day (LC), pantoprazole 40 mg/kg/day (PPI), ASA + LC (50 mg/kg/day), and ASA + PPI (40 mg/kg/day), for 21 days, respectively. On day 23, gastric mucosal injury was induced by a single intragastric administration of 600 mg/kg aspirin in ASA, ASA + LC, and ASA + PPI groups. The animals were killed 60 min after the administration of aspirin. The stomach of each animal was removed. Gastric mucosal injury was scored histopathologically (ulcer score). Tissue catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were also measured.<br /> <b>Results</b>: The ulcer score increased significantly in the ASA group, but this increase was not significantly inhibited by the administration of L-carnitine (2.71 ±1.0 vs. 2.57 ±0.5, p = 0.965). The CAT and GSH-Px activities were significantly reduced, whereas MDA and NO levels were significantly increased in the ASA group. Pretreatment with L-carnitine did not alter CAT or GSH-Px activities, but reduced MDA and NO levels insignificantly (p = 0.204 and p = 0.277, respectively).<br /> <b>Conclusions</b>: Long-term administration of L-carnitine did not improve the oxidative and histological parameters of acute gastric mucosal injury induced by ASA.