Effects of L-carnitine, L-acetylcarnitine and gangliosides on the regeneration of the transected sciatic nerve in rats

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Three pharmacological agents, L-carnitine, L-acetylcarnitine and gangliosides, were tested for their ability to enhance the regeneration of the rat sciatic nerve following transection a:nd microsurgical repair. The drugs were administered intraperitoneally at the dose of 50 mg/kg/d for 28 and 56 d postoperatively. At the end of treatment, the motor function recovery of the peroneal component of the sciatic nerve was assessed and the regenerated nerves were analysed morphometrically on histological semi-thin sections. Also, the reinnervated extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were studied histochemically using the adenosine-triphos- phatase (ATP-ase) technique 56 d after surgery. Motor function assessment at 56 d after nerve repair revealed that L-acetylcarnitine-treated animals recovered a clinical grade significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the control animals. Twenty-eight days after nerve repair, the number of myelinated fibres was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in L-acetylcarnitine and ganglioside- treated animals than in control animals. However, 56 d after nerve repair the number of regenerated fibres in all the drug-treated groups was not significantly different from that of the control group. The EDL muscles of the drug-treated animals did not show significant differences from those of control animals with respect to fibre composition and fibre diameter although the L-acetylcarnitine-treated animals exhibited a significantly lower (p < 0.05) degree of muscle atrophy than did the control animals. The results of the present work seem to indicate that L-acetylcarnitine and to a lesser extent gangliosides exert some favourable effect on the regeneration of the transected sciatic nerve in rats. The possible mechanisms of action of these substances are discussed.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: