Efficacy of L-Carnitine Administration on Lungs of Neonatal Rats Exposed to Hyperoxia

Oxygen toxicity is believed to play a prominent role in the lung injury that leads to the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. L-carnitine (LCAR) is an antioxidant and prevents the accumulation of end products of lipid peroxidation, acts as a free radical scavenger and protects cells from reactive oxygen species. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of LCAR on the histopathologic characteristics of oxygen-induced lung injury. Thirty one rat pups were divided into 4 groups: Healthy control group (group 1, n = 8), hyperoxia-exposed group (group 2, n = 7), hyperoxia-exposed and 100 mg kg-1 LCAR-treated group (goup 3, n = 10), hyperoxia-exposed and 200 mg kg-1 LCAR-treated group (goup 4, n = 6). Although in group given 100 mg kg-1 LCAR together with hyperoxia-exposure, it was observed some improvement, histopathologic findings obtained from animals treated with 200 mg kg-1 LCAR were similar to normal surprisingly. In conclusion, it should be focused on more the possible protective effect mechanism of LCAR and it should be made more effort to be able to use it in routine.