Combined administration of L- carnitine and L-Arginine protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury in the Brain

Background and Aim : The present study was initiated to investigate the effect of l-carnitine and Nitric oxide precursor (L-Arginine) on ischemia-reperfusion injury in the brainMethods : 50 adult male Wistar rats were used in this study. There are 10 rats in each group Group (1) control; group(2) negative control; group (3) rats subjected to cerebral ischemia and treated with L-Carnitine 100 mg/kg; group (4) rats with cerebral ischemia and treated with L-Arginine 100 mg/kg; and group (5) cerebral ischemia and treated with L-Carnitine plus L-Arginine. Cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 1 h followed by reperfusion. Brain catalase, super oxide dismutase (SOD) and brain malonedialdehyde (MDA) were measured and obtained data were compared with one-way ANOVA and Tukey statistical analysis. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.Results : L-Carnitine significantly decreased brain MDA concentrations in rats subjected to cerebral ischemia (P < 0.05), and increased brain catalase and SOD levels compared to the negative control rats. Brain MDA levels were also decreased in the rats treated with L-Arginine compared to the negative control rats. There was also a significant increase in brain CAT and SOD levels of rats receiving L-arginine alone. Brain SOD and CAT levels were also higher in rats received the combined administration of L-Carnitine plus L-Arginine compared to the negative control rats (P < 0.001).Conclusion : Combined administration of L-Carnitine and L-Arginine has more therapeutic effect compared to the administration of each one alone.

Keywords:

L_carnitine , nitric oxide , ischemia , reperfusion , brain