Effects of L-carnitine supplementation on ascites syndrome in the broilers grown at high altitude / Efectos síndrome de la suplementación con L-carnitina en el de ascitis en los pollos de engorde criados a gran altura

ABSTRACT Objective. Investigate the effects of L-carnitine as a potential means of reducing the incidence of ascites in broilers and its relationship with physiological and biochemical paramaters. Material and methods. One-day-old 300 male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used in the trial. The group without L-carnitine supplementation (0) was assigned as control and the groups that received 100, 150, 200 and 250 mg/L L-carnitine supplementation in water were assigned as treatment groups. The trial was completed in 35 days. Results. L-carnitine supplementation did not have any significant effect on live weight gain, feed consumption, water consumption and feed conversion ratio. Levels of blood plasma and hemogram parameters HDL, Triglyceride, CK, RBC and MCH were significantly affected by L-carnitine (p<0.05). Blood gas parameter pH value was significantly affected by L-carnitine supplementation in the broilers with ascites. Blood gas pH value significantly increased with 100 mg/L L-carnitine supplementation compared to that of control (p<0.05). While blood pH was 7.21 in the animals with ascites, it was determined as 7.48 in healthy animals. Concentrations of SO2 and ctO2 were higher in healthy animals, while ctCO2P and hemoglobin concentrations were higher in ascitic animals (p<0.05). Conclusions. Ascites mortality rates starting from the control group were calculated respectively as %; 20.00, 18.33, 26.67, 28.33 and 28.33%. 76.71% of total ascites deaths were in the 5th week. It was concluded that low doses of L-carnitine supplementation may have positive effects in the broilers grown at high altitude.

RESUMEN Objetivo. Investigar los efectos de la L-carnitina como un medio potencial para reducir la incidencia de ascitis en pollos de engorde y su relación con parámetros fisiológicos y bioquímicos. Material y métodos. Se utilizaron 300 pollos de engorde machos de un día de edad (Ross 308) en el ensayo. El grupo sin suplementación de L-carnitina (0) se asignó como control y los grupos que recibieron suplementos de 100, 150, 200 y 250 mg/L de L-carnitina en agua se asignaron como grupos de tratamiento. La prueba se completó en 35 días. Resultados. La suplementación de L-carnitina no tuvo ningún efecto significativo sobre el aumento de peso vivo, consumo de alimento, consumo de agua y tasa de conversión alimenticia. Los niveles de plasma sanguíneo y los parámetros del hemograma HDL, triglicéridos, CK RBC y MCH se vieron afectados significativamente por L-carnitina (p<0.05). El valor del pH del parámetro del gas en sangre se vio significativamente afectado por la suplementación con L-carnitina en los pollos de engorde con ascitis. El valor del pH del gas en la sangre aumentó significativamente con la suplementación de 100 mg/L de L-carnitina en comparación con la del control (p<0.05). Mientras que el pH de la sangre fue de 7.21 en los animales con ascitis, se determinó como 7.48 en animales sanos. Las concentraciones de SO2 y ctO2 fueron mayores en animales sanos, mientras que las concentraciones de ctCO2P y hemoglobina fueron mayores en animales ascíticos (p<0.05). Conclusiones. Las tasas de mortalidad por ascitis a partir del grupo control se calcularon respectivamente como %; 20.00, 18.33, 26.67 y 28.33. 76.71% de las muertes totales de ascitis fueron en la quinta semana. Se concluyó que dosis bajas de suplementos de L-carnitina pueden tener efectos positivos en los pollos de engorde criados a gran altitude.

Urinary excretion of L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine, propionyl-L-carnitine and their antioxidant activities after single dose administration of L-carnitine in healthy subjects

The urine excretion of L-carnitine (LC), acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) and propionyl-Lcarnitine (PLC) and their relations with the antioxidant activities are presently unknown. Liquid L-carnitine (2.0 g) was administered orally as a single dose in 12 healthy subjects. Urine concentrations of LC, ALC and PLC were detected by HPLC. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrogen monoxidum (NO) activities were measured by spectrophotometric methods. The 0~2 h, 2~4 h, 4~8 h, 8~12 h, 12~24 h excretion of LC was 53.13±31.36 µmol, 166.93±76.87 µmol, 219.92±76.30 µmol, 100.48±23.89 µmol, 72.07±25.77 µmol, respectively. The excretion of ALC was 29.70±14.43 µmol, 80.59±32.70 µmol, 109.85±49.21 µmol, 58.65±18.55 µmol, and 80.43±35.44 µmol, respectively. The urine concentration of PLC was 6.63±4.50 µmol, 15.33±12.59 µmol, 15.46±6.26 µmol, 13.41±11.66 µmol and 9.67±7.92 µmol, respectively. The accumulated excretion rate of LC was 6.1% within 24h after its administration. There was also an increase in urine concentrations of SOD and T-AOC, and a decrease in NO and MDA. A positive correlation was found between urine concentrations of LC and SOD (r = 0.8277) or T-AOC (r = 0.9547), and a negative correlation was found between urine LC excretions and NO (r = -0.8575) or MDA (r = 0.7085). In conclusion, a single oral LC administration let to a gradual increase in urine L-carnitine excretion which was associated with an increase in urine antioxidant enzymes and the total antioxidant capacities. These data may be useful in designing therapeutic regimens of LC or its analogues in the future.

A excreção urinária de L-carnitina (LC), acetil-L-carnitina (ALC) e propionil-L-carnitine (PLC) e as suas relações com as atividades antioxidantes são presentemente desconhecidos. Líquido de L-carnitina (2,0 g) foi administrada por via oral como uma dose única em 12 indivíduos saudáveis. As concentrações urinárias de LC, PLC e ALC foram detectados por HPLC. Atividades superóxido dismutase (SOD), a capacidade antioxidante total (T-AOC), malondialdeído (MDA) e óxido nítrico (NO) foram medidas por métodos espectrofotométricos. O 0~2 h, 2~4 h, 4~8 h, 8~12 h, 12~24 h excreção de LC foi 53,13±31.36 µmol, 166,93±76.87 µmol, 219,92±76.30 µmol, 100,48±23.89 µmol, 72,07±25.77 µmol, respectivamente. A excreηão de ALC foi 29,70±14.43 µmol, 80,59±32.70 µmol, 109,85±49.21 µmol, 58,65±18.55 µmol, e 80,43±35.44 µmol, respectivamente. A concentraηão de urina de PLC foi 6,63±4.50 µmol, 15,33±12.59 µmol, 15,46±6.26 µmol, 13,41±11.66 µmol e 9,67±7.92 µmol, respectivamente. A taxa de excreηão acumulada de LC foi de 6,1% 24 horas após sua administração. Houve também um aumento nas concentrações de urina de SOD e T-COA e diminuição de NO e de MDA. Correlação positiva foi encontrada entre as concentrações de urina de LC e SOD (r = 0,8277) ou T-AOC (r = 0,9547) e correlação negativa entre a excreção de LC e NO (r = -0,8575) ou MDA (r = 0,7085). Em conclusão, a administração oral única de LC leva ao aumento gradual na excreção urinária de L-carnitina, que foi associada com o aumento das enzimas antioxidantes na urina e as capacidades antioxidantes totais. Estes dados podem ser úteis no futuro para o planejamento de esquemas terapêuticos de LC ou os seus análogos, no futuro.

Hidrólisis de acilcarnitinas durante el análisis en sangre y plasma por espectrometría de masas en tandem / Hydrolysis of acylcarnitines during measurement in blood and plasma by tandem mass spectrometry

La determinación de acilcarnitinas en sangre es una herramienta importante para el diagnóstico de algunas enfermedades hereditarias, así como deficiencias metabólicas secundarias. Bajo las condiciones acídicas y la alta temperatura utilizadas durante el proceso de derivatización, es posible que pueda ocurrir algún grado de hidrólisis de acilcarnitinas, lo cual puede potencialmente interferir con las determinaciones de la carnitina libre. El objetivo del presente estudio fue investigar la hidrólisis de las acilcarnitinas (de cadena corta, media y larga) durante el proceso de derivatización y analizar su efecto sobre la determinación de carnitina libre. El porcentaje de hidrólisis fue de 27% para acilcarnitinas de cadena corta, 17% para acilcarnitinas de cadena media y 5% para acilcarnitinas de cadena larga. Estos resultados pueden ocasionar un incremento en los niveles de carnitina libre de las muestras analizadas.

The measurement of acylcarnitines in blood is an important tool for diagnosis of some inherited metabolic diseases and secondary metabolic deficiencies. Under the acidic conditions and the high temperature used for the derivatisation process, it is feasible that some degree of hydrolysis of acylcarnitines to free carnitine may occur and therefore potentially interfere with free carnitine measurements. The objective of the present study was to investigate the hydrolysis of acylcarnitines (short-chain-, medium-chain, and long chain acylcarnitines) during derivatisation process and to analyse its effect on free carnitine measurement. The average percentage of hydrolysis was 27% for short-chain acylcarnitines, 17% for medium-chain acylcarnitines, and 5% for long-chain acylcarnitines. These results can increase the free carnitine levels in the analysed samples.

Evaluation of the nitrergic myenteric neurons in the distal colon of diabetic rats treated with acetyl-L-Carnitine

In this work, we evaluated the effect of acetyl-L-carnitine supplmentation on the presence of NADPH-diaphorase positive myenteric neurons in the distal colon of rats with diabetes mellitus induced by streptozotocin. Rats 105 days old were divided into four groups: normoglycemic, normoglycemic supplemented with acetyl-L-carnitine, diabetic and diabetic supplemented with acetyl-L-carnitine. Diabetes was induced by the administration of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg, i. v.). Supplementation with acetyl-L-carnitine was done for 105 days. The neuronal density was similar in all groups. In diabetic rats, the area of neuronal cell body profile was greater (p<0, 05) than in normoglycemic rats, whereas in diabetic rats receiving acetyl-L-carnitine the areas were smaller than in the non-supplemented diabetic rats (p<0, 05). The increase in the colonic area of diabetic rats was greater than in diabetic rats treated with acetyl-L-carnitine (p<0, 05), indicating that the increment in the population of these neurons was higher in treated diabetic rats. These results suggest that the beneficial effect of carnitine is restricted to preventing an excessive increase in neuronal area. The greater dilatation of the distal colon seen in diabetic rats supplemented with acetyl-L-carnitine probably represents and adverse effect of this compound.

Effect of acetyl-L-carnitine on Vip-ergic neurons in the jejunum submucous plexus of diabetic rats

The effect of the treatment with acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) on neurons releasing the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) of the submucous plexus in the jejunum of diabetic rats was the purpose of our investigation. Diabetes (DM) was induced by injecting streptozotocin endovenously (35mg/kg). After sacrificing the animals, the jejunum was collected and processed for VIP detection. Four groups were used: C (non-diabetic), CC (non-diabetic treated with ALC), D (diabetic), DC (diabetes treated with ALC). We analyzed the immunoreactivity and the cellular profile of 126 cell bodies. The treatment with ALC improved some aspects of DM. However, it promoted a small increase in the area of neurons from group CC, suggesting a possible neurotrophic effect. Neurons from groups D and DC showed a large increase in their cellular profile and immunoreactivity when compared to C and CC, suggesting a larger concentration of this neurotransmitter within the neurons that produce it. This observation constitutes a recurrent finding in diabetic animals, suggesting that ALC doesnot interfere in the pathophysiological mechanisms that unchain a higher production and/or neurotransmitter accumulation and increase the profile of the VIP-ergic neurons