The Effect of L-Carnitine Administration on Doxorubicine Induced Hepatoxicity and Nephrotoxicity in Rabbits

This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of L-carnitine (LCAR) on doxorubicin (DOX) associated damage in liver and kidney. A total of 21 healthy albino New-Zealand rabbits were divided into 3 groups. Rabbits in group I (n=8) received DOX at the dose of 0.6 mg/kg/day body weight (BW) intraperitoneally (IP) for 6 days, group II (n=7) received DOX at the dose of 0.6 mg/kg/day BW, IP and LCAR at the dose of 1000 mg/kg/day BW IP for 6 days and group III (n=6) received LCAR at dose of 1000 mg/kg/day BW IP for 6 days. Blood samples from auricular vein were taken from all animals at the beginning of the experiment (before the drug administration) and 2 hours after the drug administration daily for 6 days. Histopathological examination of all animals was carried out at the end of the study. Severe alterations in liver and kidney of rabbits given only DOX were noticed on histopathology examination. This was supported by marked increases in serum concentrations of ALT, AST, creatinin, and urea in this group when compared to other groups. The results of histopathological and biochemical analysis revealed that parenteral LCAR has a potential role in protection against adverse effect of DOX on liver and kidney