L-carnitine reduces acute lung injury in experimental biliary obstruction

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the protective effects of L-carnitine (LC) on lungs in an experimental obstructive jaundice (OJ) model. METHODS: This was conducted for 2 months between May 2011 and July 2011 at Suleyman Demirel University School of Medicine Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Isparta, Turkey. Thirty-eight Wistar-Albino rats with an average weight of 250-300 g were divided into 3 groups of control, OJ, and OJ + L-carnitine treatment (LCT). L-carnitine was injected intravenously into the tail vein at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day for 10 days to the LCT group. Animals were sacrificed 10 days later. Enzyme levels were measured in the lung tissue; malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase, and superoxide dismutase. Tumor necrosis factor-alfa, interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, and C-reactive protein levels were studied in plasma samples. Histopathological changes in the lungs were examined. RESULTS: There was a decreased in GSH-Px, MPO, and IL-8 levels (p<0.05) in the LCT group. The histopathological examination showed that neutrophil leukocyte infiltration and edema formation decreased and destruction of lung parenchyma disappeared following the treatment with LC (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: L-carnitine has a protective effect against lung damage due to experimental obstructive jaundice, possibly by altering anticytokine and antioxidant activity, and by decreasing the neutrophil migration.