Effect of L-carnitine on regeneration in experimental partial hepatectomy model in rats

Abstract

Background: In cases of major liver resections or ischemic damage made by the pringle maneuver, agents that increase regeneration or manage ischemic reperfusion injury have become a fascinating topic for researchers. The aim of this study is to see how systemic L-carnitine, an antioxidant with thorough research behind it, affects liver regeneration after major hepatectomy in a rat experimental hepatectomy (two-thirds liver resection) model.

Methods: The liver regeneration was evaluated in this study using a rat hepatectomy model developed in the General Surgery Clinic of Health Sciences University, Umraniye Education and Research Hospital's Laboratory. In the experiment, 15 male and 15 female Wistar Albino rats weighing between 250 and 300 g were used in a way that the genders were mixed. In each group, three groups were formed, including male and female rats randomly selected and ten rats. Gcontrol: 70% hepatic resection + intraperitoneal 0.9% saline, GSham: After laparotomy, the abdomen was closed again without any procedure, Gcarnitine: 70% hepatic resection + intraperitoneal 100 mg/kg L Carnitine was applied. It was applied systemically to GSham and Gcarnitine groups and the same procedure was applied to rats for 4 days at the same time without any restrictions. On the 5th day, the abdomen was entered with relaparotomy after sacrification and liver regeneration was evaluated macroscopically and recorded in the forms developed for each subject. Later, liver tissue was resected and microscopically recorded by measuring mitotic index, binuclear hepatocyte, gall duct proliferation, dilation in central veins, and cell proliferation in the parenchyma. The results obtained were evaluated statistically.

Results: According to the results, the L-carnitine group had a statistically significant increase in overall regeneration scoring after hepatectomy in the histopathological assessment as compared to the control group.

Conclusion: It is thought that L-carnitine, whose many positive effects have been shown experimentally and clinically, has a positive effect on liver regeneration and immunohistochemical researches is required to elucidate this pathway.

Figure 1

Anesthesia and start of the operation.

Figure 2

The piece of liver that is totally removed after sacrification.

Figure 3

Macroscopic regeneration and histopathological data of carnitine and control group.

Figure 4

(a) Mitotic figures in hepatectomy surrounding areas (H&E × 400), (b) binuclear hepatocytes around hepatectomy surrounding areas (H&E × 400), (c) intensive bile ductus proliferation areas around hepatectomy areas (H&E × 100), (d) enlargement of central veins in areas around hepatectomy (H&E × 40), (e) cytoplasmic vacuolization and hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes in areas around hepatectomy (H&E × 400), and (f) leukocyte infiltration with dense polymorph core around hepatectomy (H&E × 200).