Protective effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on neurodegenarative changes in chronic cerebral ischemia models and learning-memory impairment in aged rats

This study investigated the effects of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) in secondarily-induced cerebral chronic ischemia models using rats with permanent ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries (BCCL) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Additionally, we used normal aged rats as a primary dement...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of pharmacal research 2012, 35(1), , pp.145-154
Main Authors: Goo, Moon-Jung, Choi, Seul Min, Kim, Soon-Hoe, Ahn, Byoung Ok
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetylcarnitine - pharmacology
Acetylcarnitine - therapeutic use
Aging - drug effects
Aging - metabolism
Aging - pathology
Animals
Avoidance Learning - drug effects
Brain Ischemia - metabolism
Brain Ischemia - pathology
Brain Ischemia - prevention & control
Male
Medicine
Memory Disorders - metabolism
Memory Disorders - pathology
Memory Disorders - prevention & control
Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology
Neuroprotective Agents - therapeutic use
Pharmacology/Toxicology
Pharmacy
Random Allocation
Rats
Rats, Inbred SHR
Research Article
약학
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Summary:This study investigated the effects of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) in secondarily-induced cerebral chronic ischemia models using rats with permanent ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries (BCCL) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Additionally, we used normal aged rats as a primary dementia model. Chronic ALC administration at 100 mg/kg (p.o.) for 4 weeks significantly attenuated neurodegenerative changes. In groups receiving 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg, ALC inhibited the active astrocyte increase in cerebral tissues of both BCCL and SHR models. In BCCL rats, ALC administration (50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg, p.o.) resulted in significant promotion of glutathione levels in brain tissues. We also confirmed behavioral improvement after ALC treatment (100 mg/kg for 8 weeks, p.o.) on learning-memory function using aged rats (18 months old) in a passive avoidance task and preservation of CA1 pyramidal neurons was coincided on histopathological observation. In conclusion, chronic ALC administration may ameliorate cerebral ischemia progress after a cerebrovascular disorder as well as spontaneous ageing-related cerebral dysfunction via hippocampal protection.
ISSN:0253-6269
1976-3786
DOI:10.1007/s12272-012-0116-9