Effects of ICRF-187 and L-carnitine on bleomycin-induced lung toxicity in rats

ABSTRACT

The possible modulatory effects of ICRF-187 and L-carnitine against bleomycin -induced pulmonary toxicity in male rats were investigated. Repeated administration of bleomycin [10mg/kg, twice weekly for 6 consecutive weeks] produced significant lung toxicity. The toxicity was manifested by significant increase in normal contents of lipid peroxide [LPO. 91.7%], reduced glutathione [GSH, 73.2%] and oxidised glutathione [GSSG, 135,4%] as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase [SOD, 222.7%]. Thirty minutes prior to bleomycin treatment, other groups of rats were received either ICRF-187 [95 mg/kg] or L-carnitine [500 mg/kg] adopting the same schedule of treatment as in bleomycin-treated group. L-carnitine decreased bleomycin-induced elevations in SOD activity, GSH and GSSG contents, however, it failed to suppress the increase in LPO level. On the other hand,. treatment with ICRF-187 returned back all the elevated biochemical parameters induced by bleomycin to nearly normal levels. In conclusion, the results of this study showed a potential capability of ICRF-187 to mitigate the bleomycin-induced lung injury. Moreover, despite the inability of L-carnitine to change the elevated LPO content, it was able however, to decrease the elevated endogenous antioxidant parameters