Efficacy of L-carnitine and vitamin C in prevention of experimental acute pancreatitis induced by L-arginine

Title: Efficacy of L-carnitine and vitamin C in prevention of experimental acute pancreatitis induced by L-arginine.Objective: The objective of this trial is to evaluate the role of free oxygen radical, hydrogen peroxide and the role of superoxide dismutase, an enzyme providing protection against these radical and to investigate the efficacy of L-carnitine and vitamin C in prevention of pancreatic damage in an acute pancreatitis model induced by L-arginine.Method: 28 female Wistar rats were randomized into four groups of seven rats. Induction of acute pancreatitis was realized via intraperitoneal injection of L-arginine with a dose of 3,5g/kg body weight. Intraperitoneal normal saline solution of 1 mg/kg body weight was injected to rats in Control group; a dose of 3,5 g/kg body weight intraperitoneal L-arginine was administered in Arginine group; intraperitoneal 200 mg/kg body weight vitamin C was injected to rats in vitamin C group 30 minutes before the induction and intraperitoneal 200 mg/kg body weight L-carnitine was injected to rats in Carnitine group 30 minutes before the induction. After 24 hours following the last injection, all rats were sacrificed. Serum amylase and lipase values as well as pancreatic tissue hydrogen peroxide and superoxide dismutase levels were analyzed biochemically. Histopathological evaluation was performed by hematoxylin-eosin staining under light microscope, using scoring system.Results: While no significant difference was found between 0 and 24th hour amylase and lipase values in the control group, 24th hour values in all other groups were higher than 0 hour levels (p<0.05). Hydrogen peroxide levels in arginine and vitamin C groups were significantly higher than the control group and significantly higher in arginine group, as compared to carnitine group (p<0.05). Although there was no significant difference in superoxide dismutase levels between groups (P= 0.716), the highest superoxide dismutase levels were determined in carnitine group. Upon analysis of total histopathological scoring; control group with a total histopathological score value of 0 was not included in the evaluation, no significant difference was found between any of the remaining groups (p=0,170).Conclusion: In the experimental pancreatitis, which has been induced by L-arginine, favourable, but not statistically significant, effects of L-carnitine have been shown in prevention of pancreatic damage. Vitamin C was not found efficacious in prevention of experimental pancreatitis induced by L-arginine.It is believed that more favourable results could be achieved, if the study was a large-scale one, and IV administration (rather than IP route) of L-carnitine was performed for a longer duration before the induction of experimental pancreatitis.Keywords: L-carnitine, vitamin C, L-arginine, experimental acute pancreatitis.