AIM: To investigate the beneficial effect of the combination of butyrate, Lactobacillus casei, and L-carnitine in a rat colitis model.METHODS: Rats were divided into seven groups. Fourgroups received oral butyrate, L-...AIM: To investigate the beneficial effect of the combination of butyrate, Lactobacillus casei, and L-carnitine in a rat colitis model.METHODS: Rats were divided into seven groups. Fourgroups received oral butyrate, L-carnitine, Lactobacillus casei and the combination of three agents for 10 consecutive days. The remaining groups included negative and positive controls and a sham group. Macroscopic, histopathological examinations, and biomarkers such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) and interlukin-1β(IL-1β), myeloperoxidase(MPO), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS), and ferric reduced ability of plasma(FRAP) were determined in the colon.RESULTS: The combination therapy exhibited a significant beneficial effect in alleviation of colitis compared to controls. Overall changes in reduction of TNF-α(114.66 ± 18.26 vs 171.78 ± 9.48 pg/mg protein, P < 0.05), IL-1β(24.9 ± 1.07 vs 33.06 ± 2.16 pg/mg protein, P < 0.05), TBARS(0.2 ± 0.03 vs 0.49 ± 0.04 μg/mg protein, P < 0.01), MPO(15.32 ± 0.4 vs 27.24 ± 3.84 U/mg protein, P < 0.05), and elevation of FRAP(23.46 ± 1.2 vs 15.02 ± 2.37 μmol/L, P < 0.05) support the preference of the combination therapy in comparison to controls. Although the monotherapies were also effective in improvement of colitis markers, the combination therapy was much better in improvement of colon oxidative stress markers including FRAP, TBARS, and MPO.CONCLUSION: The present combination is a suitable mixture in control of experimental colitis and should be trialed in the clinical setting.展开更多
A simple and rapid UPLC–MS/MS method to simultaneously determine gemcitabine and its L-carnitine ester derivative(2’-deoxy-2’, 2’-difluoro-N-((4-amino-4-oxobutanoyl) oxy)-4-(trimethyl amm-onio) butanoate-cytidine,...A simple and rapid UPLC–MS/MS method to simultaneously determine gemcitabine and its L-carnitine ester derivative(2’-deoxy-2’, 2’-difluoro-N-((4-amino-4-oxobutanoyl) oxy)-4-(trimethyl amm-onio) butanoate-cytidine, JDR) in rat plasma was developed and validated.The conventional plasma sample preparation method of nucleoside analogues is solidphase extraction(SPE) which is time-consuming and cost-expensive. In this study, gradient elution with small particles size solid phase was applied to effectively separate gemcitabine and JDR, and protein precipitation pretreatment was adopted to remove plasma protein and extract the analytes with high recovery(>81%). Method validation was performed as per the FDA guidelines, and the standard curves were found to be linear in the range of 5–4000 ng/ml for JDR and 4–4000 ng/ml for gemcitabine, respectively. The lower limit of quantitation(LLOQ)of gemcitabine and JDR was 4 and 5 ng/ml, respectively. The intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy results were within the acceptable limits. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied to investigate the pharmacokinetic studies of JDR and gemcitabine after oral administration to rats.展开更多
BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)dominates the landscape of modern hepatology.Affecting 25%of the general population,there is critical unmet need to identify broadly available,safe and cost-effective...BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)dominates the landscape of modern hepatology.Affecting 25%of the general population,there is critical unmet need to identify broadly available,safe and cost-effective treatments.Cumulative evidence in animal and human models suggests that intrahepatic and skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation is impaired in NAFLD,such that lipid accretion is not matched by efficient utilisation.L-carnitine is a crucial mediator of fatty acid metabolism in vivo,promoting mitochondrial lipidβ-oxidation and enhancing tissue metabolic flexibility.These physiological properties have generated research interest in L-carnitine as a potentially effective adjunctive therapy in NAFLD.AIM To systematically review randomised trials reporting effects of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on liver biochemistry,liver fat and insulin sensitivity in NAFLD.METHODS Search strategies,eligibility criteria and analytic methods were specified a priori(PROSPERO reference:CRD42018107063).Ovid MEDLINE,Ovid EMBASE,PubMed,Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched from their inception until April 2019.Outcome measures included serum concentrations of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase(ALT and AST),liver fat and insulin sensitivity assessed by the homeostasis model of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR).A random effects meta-analysis was performed for,ALT,AST and HOMA-IR measures separately.Between-study heterogeneity was measured using I2 statistics.RESULTS Five eligible randomised trials were included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis(n=338).All of the 5 included trials assessed the effect of L-carnitine on serum ALT,identified from Italy,South Korea and Iran.Weighted mean difference(WMD)for ALT between L-carnitine and control groups after intervention was-25.34 IU/L[95%CI:-41.74-(-8.94);P=0.002].WMD for AST between L-carnitine and control groups was-13.68 IU/L(95%CI:-28.26-0.89;P=0.066).In three studies(n=204),HOMA-IR was evaluated.WMD for HOMA-IR between L-carnitine and control groups was-0.74 units[95%CI:-1.02-(-0.46);P<0.001].Two studies using validated outcome measures reported a significant reduction in liver fat in L-carnitine vs control groups post-intervention(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Pooled results indicate that L-carnitine supplementation attenuates ALT,liver fat and insulin resistance in NAFLD cohorts,confirming a beneficial effect of Lcarnitine for a highly prevalent condition with a growing economic burden.展开更多
A 4-week low dosage (500 mg/day) L-carnitine supplementation in combination with motivation training was carried out in 24 overweight (BMI 25.8 - 26.6 kg/m2) Japanese males in the course of a double-blind randomized p...A 4-week low dosage (500 mg/day) L-carnitine supplementation in combination with motivation training was carried out in 24 overweight (BMI 25.8 - 26.6 kg/m2) Japanese males in the course of a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. L-carnitine motivated group showed significant body weight loss and a decrement of serum triglyceride level vs. the non-motivated placebo group. Serum adiponectin levels increased in both L-carnitine supplemented groups. The beneficial effects of L-carnitine were amplified by motivation training. For clinical evaluation of supplements, whose efficacy is potentially affected by inter-individual life style variability, supportive motivation training might be advisable for future clinical trials.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the effect of L-carnitine on in vitro maturation and subsequent in vitro embryo production of buffalo oocytes.Methods:Cumulus oocyte complexes(COCs)were aspirated from ovaries of slaughtered b...Objective:To investigate the effect of L-carnitine on in vitro maturation and subsequent in vitro embryo production of buffalo oocytes.Methods:Cumulus oocyte complexes(COCs)were aspirated from ovaries of slaughtered buffaloes.COCs were classified into good and fair qualities based on morphological observation of numbers and integrity of cumulus cells surrounding the oocyte.Both categories of COCs were placed in in vitro maturation medium with supplementation of different concentrations(0,0.250,0.375 or 0.500 mg/mL)of L-carnitine.Oocytes from both qualities were in vitro fertilized and in vitro cultured for 7 days,to examine the developmental competence.Results:Supplementation of L-carnitine to in vitro maturation medium increased the cumulus cell expansion rate of COCs to grade A,and reduced the cumulus cell expansion of COCs to grade B and grade C in both good and fair quality oocytes.Similarly,L-carnitine induced the in vitro meiotic progression of buffalo oocytes to metaphaseⅡin both good and fair quality oocytes.Additionally,L-carnitine reduced the rate of oocyte degeneration in both good and fair quality oocytes.L-carnitine increased the rate of cleaved formation at day 2 and blastocyst formation at day 7 during in vitro culture in both qualities of oocytes.Moreover,a higher rate of blastocyst production was observed in L-carnitine-treated fair quality oocytes,which was higher than the results in the untreated good quality oocytes.Conclusions:L-carnitine enhances meiotic maturation and subsequent embryo development from both good and fair quality buffalo oocytes.展开更多
The present study was aimed to observe the effects of urea ingestion, non-protein nitrogen, on the disorder of nitrogen metabolism with the L-carnitine contents using the blood, kidney, liver, and femoral muscle as ma...The present study was aimed to observe the effects of urea ingestion, non-protein nitrogen, on the disorder of nitrogen metabolism with the L-carnitine contents using the blood, kidney, liver, and femoral muscle as markers. A total of 8 Japanese white rabbits were used in this experiment. They were fed a basal diet prepared for the control group and the nitrogen volume proportionated to one-third of CP 14%, was replaced with urea in the feed of the experimental group for 7 days. On the final day, the animals were fasted from the previous evening and sacrificed. Blood was collected into a test tube at the same time of the sacrifice and their heart, kidney, liver and femoral muscle were collected. The L-carnitine contents in each sample and the urea in the blood were determined. The results of the growth test showed that there was no significant difference. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the contents of L-carnitine and urea in each sample. It was concluded that nitrogen replacement of the diet with urea, in the range of 1/3 of dietary protein, had neither effect on the maintenance of body weight nor nitrogen balance, including the de novo synthesis of L-carnitine.展开更多
Background: Propofol inhibits fatty acid oxidation and induces mitochondrial deficiency, a possible mechanism involved in propofol infusion syndrome. This study investigated how propofol influences fatty acid, glucose...Background: Propofol inhibits fatty acid oxidation and induces mitochondrial deficiency, a possible mechanism involved in propofol infusion syndrome. This study investigated how propofol influences fatty acid, glucose, and amino acid metabolism, as well as whether L-carnitine may improve suppression of free fatty acid metabolism. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats, fasted for 16 hours, were allocated to the following two groups: (Group P;continuous intravenous administration of 10 mg/kg/h propofol;n = 8) and (Group P + C;intravenous administration of 50 mg/kg and then 50 mg/kg/h L-carnitine continuously;n = 8). Concentrations of glucose, free fatty acid (FFA), amino acids, in-sulin, and β-hydroxybutyric acid were measured at the start and then one, two, and three hours after propofol administration. Intrahepatic triglyceride levels were measured at the end of experiments. In vitro experiments comprised measurement of oxygen consumption in human hepatocytes (Hepg2) and investigating dependency on palmitic acid, glucose, and glutamine as fuel during propofol administration, with or without L-carnitine. Results: FFA increased in Group P and gradually decreased in Group P + C. There were significant differences between the two groups (Group P;331.2 ± 64.5 μM vs. Group P + C;199 ± 73.6 μM). Glucose decreased in both groups (Group P;53.8 ±16.6 mg/dL vs. Group P + C;88 ± 11.3 mg/dL). Amino acid concentrations were higher in Group P + C after experiments;alanine and glutamine increased significantly. β-hydroxybutyric acid increased significantly in Group P + C, and intrahepatic triglyceride decreased in Group P + C. Dependency on fatty acid metabolism significantly decreased with propofol only;addition of L-carnitine prevented these effects. Conclusions: Propofol impaired mitochondrial fatty acid metabolism, which was compensated mainly by a switch to glucose metabolism and partially by amino acid metabolism. Addition of L-carnitine may improve this imbalance of energy metabolism.展开更多
This study evaluated the relationship between serum L-carnitine level and sperm parameters in young boars. Serum L-carnitine and semen characteristics were determined for 61 young Duroc boars between the ages of 590 a...This study evaluated the relationship between serum L-carnitine level and sperm parameters in young boars. Serum L-carnitine and semen characteristics were determined for 61 young Duroc boars between the ages of 590 and 630 days. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to predict total and progressive motility and the total number of spermatozoa based on serum total L-carnitine and free L-carnitine levels. Total number of spermatozoa was not associated with basal serum L-carnitine levels. A regression equation was found in which both total L-carnitine levels and free L-carnitine levels were significant predictors of total and progressive motility (P 0.05). These results suggest that serum L-carnitine level is an important selection parameter for stock boars.展开更多
Background Specific nutrients combined with exercise may prevent a loss of lean body mass and consequently prevent sarcopenia.We examined the effects of 2 weeks of supplementation with L-carnitine and a single dose of...Background Specific nutrients combined with exercise may prevent a loss of lean body mass and consequently prevent sarcopenia.We examined the effects of 2 weeks of supplementation with L-carnitine and a single dose of branched-chain amino acids(BCAAs)on energy metabolism and body composition before and after exercise and on post-exercise muscle soreness in healthy subjects.Methods A total of 12 young,untrained,healthy women were randomly assigned to two groups who received either 2 weeks of supplementation with L-carnitine(1000 mg/day)and a single dose of BCAAs plus 200 kcal energy(LCAR+BCAA group,n=6)or 200 kcal energy alone(control group,n=6)before 60 min of exercise.Energy substrate metabolism and body composition by bio-impedance were examined before and after exercise.Delayed-onset muscle soreness(DOMS)was evaluated by using a visual analogue scale for 3 days after exercise.Results Serum concentrations of free and acyl-L-carnitine in the LCAR+BCAA group were not significantly different from those in the control group.There were no significant differences in body composition before or after exercise between the two groups.Although serum free fatty acid levels 120 min after the oral ingestion of BCAAs were significantly lower in the LCAR+BCAA group than in the control group,there were no significant differences in serum free fatty acid levels immediately after and 60 min after exercise.DOMS for 3 days after exercise was lower in the LCAR+BCAA group than in the control group,but this difference was not significant.Conclusion Continuous supplementation with L-carnitine combined with a dose of BCAAs in young,untrained,healthy subjects caused a blunted response of stimulated lipolysis after exercise.展开更多
The fatty acid composition of spermatozoa has been shown to be important for their function,and L-carnitine is crucial for fatty acid metabolism.Its levels in the seminal plasma positively correlate with semen quality...The fatty acid composition of spermatozoa has been shown to be important for their function,and L-carnitine is crucial for fatty acid metabolism.Its levels in the seminal plasma positively correlate with semen quality,whereas high body mass index(BMI)is associated with both reduced semen quality and altered sperm fatty acid composition.Here,we examined the associations between free seminal L-carnitine levels and sperm fatty acid composition as well as BMI.Semen samples were collected and analyzed from 128 men with unknown fertility status and with BMI ranging from 19 kg m^(−2) to 63 kg m^(−2).Sperm fatty acid composition was assessed by gas chromatography,while free seminal L-carnitine analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography.Multiple linear regression analysis showed a positive correlation of free seminal L-carnitine levels with the amount of sperm palmitic acid(β=0.21;P=0.014),docosahexaenoic acid(DHA;β=0.23;P=0.007),and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids(β=0.23;P=0.008)and a negative correlation of free seminal L-carnitine levels with lignoceric acid(β=−0.29;P=0.001)and total n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids(β=−0.24;P=0.012)when adjusted for covariates.There was no relationship between free seminal L-carnitine levels and BMI.Since free seminal L-carnitine levels are associated with semen quality,the absence of a correlation with BMI suggests that reduced semen quality in obese men is independent of seminal L-carnitine.展开更多
Introduction: The roles of genetic, epigenetic, metabolic and other environmental factors such as nutrition and stress, are becoming evident for a successful and healthy pregnancy. This raises the possibility and ques...Introduction: The roles of genetic, epigenetic, metabolic and other environmental factors such as nutrition and stress, are becoming evident for a successful and healthy pregnancy. This raises the possibility and question, if and how, we improve the probability of pregnancy and of a healthy fetus? The present study examined the role of metabolic, antioxidant and minerals and the results suggest that these factors may positively influence the oocyte quality and the pregnancy rate. Methods: CD1 female mice aged 15 and 5 weeks were divided into four groups of ten each and treated by intragastric gavage daily for 3 weeks. G1: Vehicle;G2: Carnitines (L-carnitine 0.4 mg and acetyl-L-carnitine 0.12 mg/mouse);G3: Microelements (Zinc 4 ng, Copper 0.8 ng, Iron 7 ng/mouse);G4: G3+G2. At the end of the treatment period superovulation was induced and oocytes were collected to assess their quantity and quality. Further, in vitro fertilization (IVF) experiments were performed to assess the preimplantation embryo development. The birth success rate was also analyzed in old and young female. The mice were in vivo fertilized. qRT-PCR were performed to analyze a possible modulation in key genes of the reproductive process. Results: The number of oocytes was significantly higher in groups 2 and 4 compared to the control group. The oocyte number in group 3 was not affected. The level of degraded oocytes was 29.1% and 19.3% (group 2 and 4) versus 34.3% (control). Concomitantly, the numbers of embryos arriving to successful birth were also increased in G4, both in the old and young group of mice. Preliminary analysis of genes affected evidenced that AMH was up regulated in the ovary and KITL in the uterus in group 2. Conclusion: Results showed that L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine and micronutrients were able to improve both oocytes quality and success rate of pregnancy. Further studies are planned to further examine ways to improve pregnancy and fetal health.展开更多
There is constant low level background radiation from the cosmos but in certain situation the body may be subjected to increased acute or chronic exposure from other sources. This occurs in situations such as radiatio...There is constant low level background radiation from the cosmos but in certain situation the body may be subjected to increased acute or chronic exposure from other sources. This occurs in situations such as radiation accidents, medical use and could possibly occur in military/terrorist incident. Dependent on the type, strength of the actual source, degree of exposure and type of radiation different strategies may be employed to reduce damage to the body tissues. A number of pharmacological agents such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma agonists, diltiazem, amifostine and palifermin as well as antioxidants and metabolic compounds have been shown to be effective in preventing and also in reducing the long-term damage of the exposure of the living cells to radiation. The major drawback of synthetic (pharmacological) compounds has been that they are highly toxic at the optimum protective dose. Studies have shown that various endogenously found compounds such as L-carnitine, and its derivative acetyl-L-carnitine, are able to protect tissues and organs against various forms of toxic insult including radiation damage. The radiation-induced chronic injury may also be counteracted by other metabolic compounds with amine groups and antioxidant properties similar to the carnitines such as cysteine, 3,3’-diindolylmethane (DIM) and N-acetylcysteine. This review discuses the radioprotective compounds as well as the potential mechanism of cellular protection against radiation by carnitines and other compounds.展开更多
基金Supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences(partially)
文摘AIM: To investigate the beneficial effect of the combination of butyrate, Lactobacillus casei, and L-carnitine in a rat colitis model.METHODS: Rats were divided into seven groups. Fourgroups received oral butyrate, L-carnitine, Lactobacillus casei and the combination of three agents for 10 consecutive days. The remaining groups included negative and positive controls and a sham group. Macroscopic, histopathological examinations, and biomarkers such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) and interlukin-1β(IL-1β), myeloperoxidase(MPO), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS), and ferric reduced ability of plasma(FRAP) were determined in the colon.RESULTS: The combination therapy exhibited a significant beneficial effect in alleviation of colitis compared to controls. Overall changes in reduction of TNF-α(114.66 ± 18.26 vs 171.78 ± 9.48 pg/mg protein, P < 0.05), IL-1β(24.9 ± 1.07 vs 33.06 ± 2.16 pg/mg protein, P < 0.05), TBARS(0.2 ± 0.03 vs 0.49 ± 0.04 μg/mg protein, P < 0.01), MPO(15.32 ± 0.4 vs 27.24 ± 3.84 U/mg protein, P < 0.05), and elevation of FRAP(23.46 ± 1.2 vs 15.02 ± 2.37 μmol/L, P < 0.05) support the preference of the combination therapy in comparison to controls. Although the monotherapies were also effective in improvement of colitis markers, the combination therapy was much better in improvement of colon oxidative stress markers including FRAP, TBARS, and MPO.CONCLUSION: The present combination is a suitable mixture in control of experimental colitis and should be trialed in the clinical setting.
基金the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81173009)Technology Bureau in Shenyang (No. ZCJJ2013402)+2 种基金the financial support from Project for New Century Excellent Talents of Ministry of Education (No.NCET-12-1015)Specific Science Foundation of Shenyang Pharmaceutical University (No. ZCJJ2014409)National Undergraduate Training Program for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (2016)
文摘A simple and rapid UPLC–MS/MS method to simultaneously determine gemcitabine and its L-carnitine ester derivative(2’-deoxy-2’, 2’-difluoro-N-((4-amino-4-oxobutanoyl) oxy)-4-(trimethyl amm-onio) butanoate-cytidine, JDR) in rat plasma was developed and validated.The conventional plasma sample preparation method of nucleoside analogues is solidphase extraction(SPE) which is time-consuming and cost-expensive. In this study, gradient elution with small particles size solid phase was applied to effectively separate gemcitabine and JDR, and protein precipitation pretreatment was adopted to remove plasma protein and extract the analytes with high recovery(>81%). Method validation was performed as per the FDA guidelines, and the standard curves were found to be linear in the range of 5–4000 ng/ml for JDR and 4–4000 ng/ml for gemcitabine, respectively. The lower limit of quantitation(LLOQ)of gemcitabine and JDR was 4 and 5 ng/ml, respectively. The intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy results were within the acceptable limits. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied to investigate the pharmacokinetic studies of JDR and gemcitabine after oral administration to rats.
文摘BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)dominates the landscape of modern hepatology.Affecting 25%of the general population,there is critical unmet need to identify broadly available,safe and cost-effective treatments.Cumulative evidence in animal and human models suggests that intrahepatic and skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation is impaired in NAFLD,such that lipid accretion is not matched by efficient utilisation.L-carnitine is a crucial mediator of fatty acid metabolism in vivo,promoting mitochondrial lipidβ-oxidation and enhancing tissue metabolic flexibility.These physiological properties have generated research interest in L-carnitine as a potentially effective adjunctive therapy in NAFLD.AIM To systematically review randomised trials reporting effects of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on liver biochemistry,liver fat and insulin sensitivity in NAFLD.METHODS Search strategies,eligibility criteria and analytic methods were specified a priori(PROSPERO reference:CRD42018107063).Ovid MEDLINE,Ovid EMBASE,PubMed,Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched from their inception until April 2019.Outcome measures included serum concentrations of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase(ALT and AST),liver fat and insulin sensitivity assessed by the homeostasis model of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR).A random effects meta-analysis was performed for,ALT,AST and HOMA-IR measures separately.Between-study heterogeneity was measured using I2 statistics.RESULTS Five eligible randomised trials were included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis(n=338).All of the 5 included trials assessed the effect of L-carnitine on serum ALT,identified from Italy,South Korea and Iran.Weighted mean difference(WMD)for ALT between L-carnitine and control groups after intervention was-25.34 IU/L[95%CI:-41.74-(-8.94);P=0.002].WMD for AST between L-carnitine and control groups was-13.68 IU/L(95%CI:-28.26-0.89;P=0.066).In three studies(n=204),HOMA-IR was evaluated.WMD for HOMA-IR between L-carnitine and control groups was-0.74 units[95%CI:-1.02-(-0.46);P<0.001].Two studies using validated outcome measures reported a significant reduction in liver fat in L-carnitine vs control groups post-intervention(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Pooled results indicate that L-carnitine supplementation attenuates ALT,liver fat and insulin resistance in NAFLD cohorts,confirming a beneficial effect of Lcarnitine for a highly prevalent condition with a growing economic burden.
文摘A 4-week low dosage (500 mg/day) L-carnitine supplementation in combination with motivation training was carried out in 24 overweight (BMI 25.8 - 26.6 kg/m2) Japanese males in the course of a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. L-carnitine motivated group showed significant body weight loss and a decrement of serum triglyceride level vs. the non-motivated placebo group. Serum adiponectin levels increased in both L-carnitine supplemented groups. The beneficial effects of L-carnitine were amplified by motivation training. For clinical evaluation of supplements, whose efficacy is potentially affected by inter-individual life style variability, supportive motivation training might be advisable for future clinical trials.
基金supported by Bangladesh Academy of Science(BAS-USDAProject No.LS-16/2017)+2 种基金the International Foundation for Science(IFSreference No B/5219)Bangabandhu Science and Technology Fellowship Trust of Ministry of Science and Technology,People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
文摘Objective:To investigate the effect of L-carnitine on in vitro maturation and subsequent in vitro embryo production of buffalo oocytes.Methods:Cumulus oocyte complexes(COCs)were aspirated from ovaries of slaughtered buffaloes.COCs were classified into good and fair qualities based on morphological observation of numbers and integrity of cumulus cells surrounding the oocyte.Both categories of COCs were placed in in vitro maturation medium with supplementation of different concentrations(0,0.250,0.375 or 0.500 mg/mL)of L-carnitine.Oocytes from both qualities were in vitro fertilized and in vitro cultured for 7 days,to examine the developmental competence.Results:Supplementation of L-carnitine to in vitro maturation medium increased the cumulus cell expansion rate of COCs to grade A,and reduced the cumulus cell expansion of COCs to grade B and grade C in both good and fair quality oocytes.Similarly,L-carnitine induced the in vitro meiotic progression of buffalo oocytes to metaphaseⅡin both good and fair quality oocytes.Additionally,L-carnitine reduced the rate of oocyte degeneration in both good and fair quality oocytes.L-carnitine increased the rate of cleaved formation at day 2 and blastocyst formation at day 7 during in vitro culture in both qualities of oocytes.Moreover,a higher rate of blastocyst production was observed in L-carnitine-treated fair quality oocytes,which was higher than the results in the untreated good quality oocytes.Conclusions:L-carnitine enhances meiotic maturation and subsequent embryo development from both good and fair quality buffalo oocytes.
文摘The present study was aimed to observe the effects of urea ingestion, non-protein nitrogen, on the disorder of nitrogen metabolism with the L-carnitine contents using the blood, kidney, liver, and femoral muscle as markers. A total of 8 Japanese white rabbits were used in this experiment. They were fed a basal diet prepared for the control group and the nitrogen volume proportionated to one-third of CP 14%, was replaced with urea in the feed of the experimental group for 7 days. On the final day, the animals were fasted from the previous evening and sacrificed. Blood was collected into a test tube at the same time of the sacrifice and their heart, kidney, liver and femoral muscle were collected. The L-carnitine contents in each sample and the urea in the blood were determined. The results of the growth test showed that there was no significant difference. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the contents of L-carnitine and urea in each sample. It was concluded that nitrogen replacement of the diet with urea, in the range of 1/3 of dietary protein, had neither effect on the maintenance of body weight nor nitrogen balance, including the de novo synthesis of L-carnitine.
文摘Background: Propofol inhibits fatty acid oxidation and induces mitochondrial deficiency, a possible mechanism involved in propofol infusion syndrome. This study investigated how propofol influences fatty acid, glucose, and amino acid metabolism, as well as whether L-carnitine may improve suppression of free fatty acid metabolism. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats, fasted for 16 hours, were allocated to the following two groups: (Group P;continuous intravenous administration of 10 mg/kg/h propofol;n = 8) and (Group P + C;intravenous administration of 50 mg/kg and then 50 mg/kg/h L-carnitine continuously;n = 8). Concentrations of glucose, free fatty acid (FFA), amino acids, in-sulin, and β-hydroxybutyric acid were measured at the start and then one, two, and three hours after propofol administration. Intrahepatic triglyceride levels were measured at the end of experiments. In vitro experiments comprised measurement of oxygen consumption in human hepatocytes (Hepg2) and investigating dependency on palmitic acid, glucose, and glutamine as fuel during propofol administration, with or without L-carnitine. Results: FFA increased in Group P and gradually decreased in Group P + C. There were significant differences between the two groups (Group P;331.2 ± 64.5 μM vs. Group P + C;199 ± 73.6 μM). Glucose decreased in both groups (Group P;53.8 ±16.6 mg/dL vs. Group P + C;88 ± 11.3 mg/dL). Amino acid concentrations were higher in Group P + C after experiments;alanine and glutamine increased significantly. β-hydroxybutyric acid increased significantly in Group P + C, and intrahepatic triglyceride decreased in Group P + C. Dependency on fatty acid metabolism significantly decreased with propofol only;addition of L-carnitine prevented these effects. Conclusions: Propofol impaired mitochondrial fatty acid metabolism, which was compensated mainly by a switch to glucose metabolism and partially by amino acid metabolism. Addition of L-carnitine may improve this imbalance of energy metabolism.
文摘This study evaluated the relationship between serum L-carnitine level and sperm parameters in young boars. Serum L-carnitine and semen characteristics were determined for 61 young Duroc boars between the ages of 590 and 630 days. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to predict total and progressive motility and the total number of spermatozoa based on serum total L-carnitine and free L-carnitine levels. Total number of spermatozoa was not associated with basal serum L-carnitine levels. A regression equation was found in which both total L-carnitine levels and free L-carnitine levels were significant predictors of total and progressive motility (P 0.05). These results suggest that serum L-carnitine level is an important selection parameter for stock boars.
文摘Background Specific nutrients combined with exercise may prevent a loss of lean body mass and consequently prevent sarcopenia.We examined the effects of 2 weeks of supplementation with L-carnitine and a single dose of branched-chain amino acids(BCAAs)on energy metabolism and body composition before and after exercise and on post-exercise muscle soreness in healthy subjects.Methods A total of 12 young,untrained,healthy women were randomly assigned to two groups who received either 2 weeks of supplementation with L-carnitine(1000 mg/day)and a single dose of BCAAs plus 200 kcal energy(LCAR+BCAA group,n=6)or 200 kcal energy alone(control group,n=6)before 60 min of exercise.Energy substrate metabolism and body composition by bio-impedance were examined before and after exercise.Delayed-onset muscle soreness(DOMS)was evaluated by using a visual analogue scale for 3 days after exercise.Results Serum concentrations of free and acyl-L-carnitine in the LCAR+BCAA group were not significantly different from those in the control group.There were no significant differences in body composition before or after exercise between the two groups.Although serum free fatty acid levels 120 min after the oral ingestion of BCAAs were significantly lower in the LCAR+BCAA group than in the control group,there were no significant differences in serum free fatty acid levels immediately after and 60 min after exercise.DOMS for 3 days after exercise was lower in the LCAR+BCAA group than in the control group,but this difference was not significant.Conclusion Continuous supplementation with L-carnitine combined with a dose of BCAAs in young,untrained,healthy subjects caused a blunted response of stimulated lipolysis after exercise.
文摘The fatty acid composition of spermatozoa has been shown to be important for their function,and L-carnitine is crucial for fatty acid metabolism.Its levels in the seminal plasma positively correlate with semen quality,whereas high body mass index(BMI)is associated with both reduced semen quality and altered sperm fatty acid composition.Here,we examined the associations between free seminal L-carnitine levels and sperm fatty acid composition as well as BMI.Semen samples were collected and analyzed from 128 men with unknown fertility status and with BMI ranging from 19 kg m^(−2) to 63 kg m^(−2).Sperm fatty acid composition was assessed by gas chromatography,while free seminal L-carnitine analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography.Multiple linear regression analysis showed a positive correlation of free seminal L-carnitine levels with the amount of sperm palmitic acid(β=0.21;P=0.014),docosahexaenoic acid(DHA;β=0.23;P=0.007),and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids(β=0.23;P=0.008)and a negative correlation of free seminal L-carnitine levels with lignoceric acid(β=−0.29;P=0.001)and total n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids(β=−0.24;P=0.012)when adjusted for covariates.There was no relationship between free seminal L-carnitine levels and BMI.Since free seminal L-carnitine levels are associated with semen quality,the absence of a correlation with BMI suggests that reduced semen quality in obese men is independent of seminal L-carnitine.
文摘Introduction: The roles of genetic, epigenetic, metabolic and other environmental factors such as nutrition and stress, are becoming evident for a successful and healthy pregnancy. This raises the possibility and question, if and how, we improve the probability of pregnancy and of a healthy fetus? The present study examined the role of metabolic, antioxidant and minerals and the results suggest that these factors may positively influence the oocyte quality and the pregnancy rate. Methods: CD1 female mice aged 15 and 5 weeks were divided into four groups of ten each and treated by intragastric gavage daily for 3 weeks. G1: Vehicle;G2: Carnitines (L-carnitine 0.4 mg and acetyl-L-carnitine 0.12 mg/mouse);G3: Microelements (Zinc 4 ng, Copper 0.8 ng, Iron 7 ng/mouse);G4: G3+G2. At the end of the treatment period superovulation was induced and oocytes were collected to assess their quantity and quality. Further, in vitro fertilization (IVF) experiments were performed to assess the preimplantation embryo development. The birth success rate was also analyzed in old and young female. The mice were in vivo fertilized. qRT-PCR were performed to analyze a possible modulation in key genes of the reproductive process. Results: The number of oocytes was significantly higher in groups 2 and 4 compared to the control group. The oocyte number in group 3 was not affected. The level of degraded oocytes was 29.1% and 19.3% (group 2 and 4) versus 34.3% (control). Concomitantly, the numbers of embryos arriving to successful birth were also increased in G4, both in the old and young group of mice. Preliminary analysis of genes affected evidenced that AMH was up regulated in the ovary and KITL in the uterus in group 2. Conclusion: Results showed that L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine and micronutrients were able to improve both oocytes quality and success rate of pregnancy. Further studies are planned to further examine ways to improve pregnancy and fetal health.
文摘There is constant low level background radiation from the cosmos but in certain situation the body may be subjected to increased acute or chronic exposure from other sources. This occurs in situations such as radiation accidents, medical use and could possibly occur in military/terrorist incident. Dependent on the type, strength of the actual source, degree of exposure and type of radiation different strategies may be employed to reduce damage to the body tissues. A number of pharmacological agents such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma agonists, diltiazem, amifostine and palifermin as well as antioxidants and metabolic compounds have been shown to be effective in preventing and also in reducing the long-term damage of the exposure of the living cells to radiation. The major drawback of synthetic (pharmacological) compounds has been that they are highly toxic at the optimum protective dose. Studies have shown that various endogenously found compounds such as L-carnitine, and its derivative acetyl-L-carnitine, are able to protect tissues and organs against various forms of toxic insult including radiation damage. The radiation-induced chronic injury may also be counteracted by other metabolic compounds with amine groups and antioxidant properties similar to the carnitines such as cysteine, 3,3’-diindolylmethane (DIM) and N-acetylcysteine. This review discuses the radioprotective compounds as well as the potential mechanism of cellular protection against radiation by carnitines and other compounds.