Acetyl-L-Carnitine Restores Abnormal Lipid Metabolism Induced by 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-P-Dioxin in Mice
Salai B. Magesh1, Rashmi Rajappa1, K. M. Ramkumar2, S. Suryanarayanan1 and SubbaRao V. Madhunapantula3

1Department of Water and Health, Faculty of Life Sciences, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, Mysuru– 570015, Karnataka, India.

2SRM Research Institute, SRM University, Kattankulatur - 603203, Tamil Nadu, India.

3Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CEMR), JSS Medical College, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, Mysuru -570 015, Karnataka, India.

Corresponding Author E-mail: mvsstsubbarao@jssuni.edu.in

Abstract: 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), an organic pollutant, is a potent toxin known to modulate lipid metabolism in mice.  Prior studies have demonstrated the ability of Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) to mitigate various diseases associated with abnormal lipid metabolism. Therefore, the efficacy of administration of ALC to protect mice from TCDD-induced abnormal lipid metabolism in mice was tested in this study. Experimentally, mice (n=5) were administered with 100ng/kg body weight TCDD for 30 days, followed by treatment with ALC (Oral, 50mg and 100mg/kg body weight) for additional 30 days. Compared to mice that received vehicle corn oil, mice that received TCDD showed elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids and phospholipids in liver and serum.  In addition serum lipoproteins such as LDL and VLDL were also elevated in the TCDD treated mice. Oral administration of ALC (50mg and 100mg/kg b.w) showed a dose dependent health promoting effect against TCDD-induced abnormal lipid metabolism by restoring the lipids and lipoproteins to near normal level.  In conclusion, ALC is a potent anti-hyperlipidemic compound, which helps in the treatment of disorders associated with lipid metabolism.

Keywords: TCDD; Triglycerides; ALC; Free fatty acids; hyperlipidemia

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