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Effect of L-carnitine administration on the modulated rat brain protein concentration, acetylcholinesterase, Na⁺K⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities induced by forced swimming

¹ Department of Experimental Physiology, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece
² Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece
³ Institute of Child Health, Research Center, "Aghia Sophia" Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece

Correspondence to:
S Tsakiris, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Experimental Physiology, Medical School, Athens University, PO Box 65257, GR-15401 Athens, Greece; stsakir{at}cc.uoa.gr

Background: Forced exercise produces free radicals and L-carnitine (L-C) administration reduces oxidative stress.

Aim: To investigate whether short (2 hours) or prolonged (3 hours) forced swimming could modulate total antioxidant status (TAS), protein concentration and activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), Na⁺K⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase in rat brain following intraperitonal administration of L-C (300 mg/kg).

Methods: TAS, protein and enzyme activities were measured spectrophotometrically.

Results: TAS, protein concentration and AChE activity were reduced, whereas Na⁺K⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase were significantly increased after either 2 or 3 hours of training. L-C administration resulted in a profound restoration of TAS and protein concentration whereas AChE and Na⁺K⁺-ATPase were increased before exercise, followed by AChE restoration and Na⁺K⁺-ATPase reduction after exercise. Mg²⁺-ATPase remained unchanged. An in vitro study using L-C incubation of brain homogenates previously treated with L-C resulted in complete restoration of the modulated enzymes, whereas the enzyme activities from untreated animals remained unaltered.

Conclusions: Short or prolonged swimming in rats may result in a reduction of brain TAS, protein concentration and AChE activity, and an activation of Na⁺K⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase. L-C administration may prevent reduction in TAS and protein concentration, and a decrease in AChE and Na⁺K⁺-ATPase activity; the latter reached pre-exercise values after L-C incubation.