Cardiac and renal protective effects of L-carnitine in hypercholesterolemic rats

This work was carried out in order to investigate the role of L-carnitine in protection against acute myocardial infarction as well as acute renal failure induced experimentally in hypercholesterolemic rats. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by feeding rats 5% cholesterol enriched diet for 30 days. The study included two main parts. In the first part, isoprenaline HCI was used [300 mg/kg I.P.] to induce acute myocardial infarction in rats. The results of this part revealed that, hypercholesterolemia significantly increased all the parameters which evaluate the cardiac necrosis [T wave voltage, CPK level and infarct size%]. Daily administration of L-carnitine [200 mg/kg orally] for 30 days induced significant decrease in serum total cholesterol, TG, LDL as well as significant decrease in all the indices of cardiac necrosis when compared to their corresponding values in the rats fed 5% cholesterol enriched diet but not treated with L-carnitine. In the second part of the study, acute renal failure was induced in rats by 1.M. injection of hypertonic glycerol [50%] in a dose of 10 ml/kg. The results of this part showed that hypercholesterolemia significantly aggravated the acute renal failure induced by glycerol. Daily administration of L-carnitine for 30 days normalized the lipid perofile [total cholesterol, TG, LDL and HDL] and significantly decreased serum urea, creatinine, Na+ and K+ compared to their corresponding values in Lcarnitine non treated glycerol injected rats. All the results of this work were also confirmed by the histopathologicat exmination of the hearts and kidneys of the tested rats. So, it may be concluded that 1- Hypercholesterolemia aggrevates the acute myocardial infarction as well as the acute renal failure induced experimentally in rats. 2- Daily administration of Lcarnitine for 30 days normalizes the lipid profile of the rats fed cholesterol enriched diet. 3- L-carnitine administration provides an evident cardiac and renal protective effects, 4- The cardioprotective and renoprotective effects of L-carnitine may be attributable to its lipid lowering and antioxidant effects and/or its role in improving fatty acids metabolism and energy production at the mitochondrial level

Reduction of chemically induced hepatitis in rats by adenosine

The protective effect of adenosine [1 mg/kg LP.] in hepatitis induced experimentally in rats with dgalactosamine [800 mg/kg LP.] was assessed. The degree of protection was determined biochemically by measuring AST, ALT and bilirubin in addition to hepatic nitric oxide, and by histo-pathological examination of liver. In d-galactosamine induced hepatitis in rats, there were significant elevation of ALT, AST, bilirubin and NO2 and NO3 in addition to foci of necrosis and infiltration of lymphocytes in hepatic lobules and portal tracts. In rats treated with adenosine [1 mg/kg LP.] there were significant reduction of ALT, AST, bilirubin and NO2 and NO3 in addition to more or less normal histological picture of liver. In conclusion, these findings revealed that adenosine had a protective anti-inflammatory effect on liver and this effect may be due to a reduction of hepatic nitric oxide

Effect of 5-fluorouracil plus vitamins A and E on methotrexate toxicity

The synergistic sequential administration of methotrexate [MTX] and 5-fluorouracil [5-FU] plus vitamins A and E was investigated in 60 mature albino rats. The animals were divided into six equal groups, five test groups and a control one that received distilled water. The results of the hematopoietic elements revealed non- significant differences between scheduling of MTX after a priming dose of 5-FU plus vitamins A and E or 5-FU plus vitamins A and E and the control; while BW and BM cellularity showed a very mild reduction with the group of prior administration of 5-Fu plus vitamins to MTX. The simultaneously treated group revealed a moderate reduction in BW and BM cellularity with a significant reduction in hematopoietic elements. However, a sequential treatment with MTX, followed by 5-FU plus vitamins A and E and MTX alone resulted in a marked reduction in BW and BM cellularity, together with an extremely highly significant reduction in hematopoietic elements

Effect of concurrent administration of acetaminophen with acetyl salicylic acid or indomethacin on the kidney, liver and stomach of rats

This study was conducted on 72 albino rats weighing averagely 100- 120 g. Theywere divided into 6 equal groups, the first group was served as control, the2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th groups were given acetyl salicylic acid, indomethacin,acetaminophen, acetyl salicylic acid + acetaminophen and indomethacin +acetaminophen, respectively. Drugs were given orally in dose of 1/10 LD50daily for 30 days. After this period, the animals were subjected tobiochemical investigations [serum urea, creatinine, total bilirubin, ALT, AST]and histopathological studies [kidney, liver and stomach]. It was found thatconcurrent administration of acetaminophen with acetyl salicylic acid orindomethacin had good protection against gastric erosive effect of eitheracetyl salicylic acid or indomethacin, moreover, no exaggeration of thehepatic and renal impairment was detected