Healing effects of L-carnitine on experimental colon anastomosis wound

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of L-carnitine on healing of experimental colon anastomosis injury in early and late period.Materials and Methods: Forty female Wistar-Albino rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into 4 groups (CONT-3, CONT-7, CARN-3, and CARN-7). Injury healing was evaluated for CONT-3 group on the 3rd day and for CONT-7 group on the 7th day following the anastomosis. Following the operation, CARN-3 and CARN-7 groups were intraperitoneally administered with 100 mg/ kg/day L-carnitine and injury healing was evaluated on the 3rd and 7th days. Injury strength, histological evaluation and antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidant damage were determined in tissue samples of anastomosis area.Results: Bursting pressure levels and histological scoring values of CARN-3 group were found to be higher than the CONT-3 group (p<0.05). Antioxidant enzyme activities were found to be high in groups which were administered with L-carnitine, and oxidant damage was found to be significantly low in CARN-7 group (p<0.05).Conclusion: It was seen that L-carnitine speeds up the injury healing process and increases the injury strength and antioxidant capacity in early period. Increase in antioxidant enzyme activities was observed to be continued in late period as well.