Scintigraphic and Histopathologic Evaluation of the Protective Effect of L-Carnitine on the Development of Radiation-Induced Kidney Damage in Infant Rats

Author(s): Rusen Cosar, Ulku Korkmaz, Necdet Sut, Alaattin Ozen, Kamuran Ibis, Fulya Oz-Puyan, Eylül ?enödeyici, Sarper K?z?lkaya, Sule Parlar, Dilek Nurlu, Talar Ozler, Aydogan Yalcin and Gulay Durmus-Altun

Introduction: Radiation-induced nephropathy (RIN) is an impairment of renal function caused by ionizing radiation developing after 6-12 months as acute, or years after chronically. This study aims to clarify whether L-carnitine has a protective effect in the prevention of RIN in an infant rat model or not.

Material-Method: Two-week-old male forty Wistar albino rats, control (C), L-carnitine alone (LC), irradiation alone (RT), and 30 min before irradiation (L-Carnitine 300 mg/kg, ip + RT) separated into the group. The rats in the RT and L-Carnitine + RT groups were irradiated with a dose of 8 Gy in a single fraction. All animals underwent both Tc99m DTPA dynamic kidney imaging and Tc99m DMSA static kidney imaging at the end of the three-month follow-up period. Histopathologically, proximal tubular degeneration, tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis and glomerular degeneration were also evaluated.

Results: While the kidney damage caused by irradiation was shown in line with both scintigraphy and histopathology findings, it was shown that L-carnitine did not have any negative effects on the kidney. The protective effect of L-carnitine on radiation-induced kidney damage was demonstrated scintigraphically and histopathologically, even if it was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: L-Carnitine before RT was able to preserve left kidney function. In addition, L-Carnitine before RT resulted in longer survival in statistically significant rats. In infant rats, L-Carnitine may have partially protected the kidney against RT damage and may have increased survival due to its systemic effect.