Effects of L-Carnitine on Fatty Acid Metabolism in Regenerating Rat Liver

Serial changes in the intrahepatic fatty acid and energy metabolism during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy were studied O. 5, 1, and 2 days after the operation, and the effects of preadministration of L-carnitine were examined. The acetoacetate/p-hydroxybutyrate ratio increased O. 5 and 1 day after hepatectomy, suggesting increased oxidation of mitochondria, but there were no changes in energy charge with both energy production and consumption being enhanced in the cells. In this period, marked decreases in acetyl CoA and total ketone bodies and a remarkable increase in citrate were observed, and the activity of mitochondria' carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) increased, suggesting an increase in fatty acid oxidation. The level of free carnitine also reduced. When L-carnitine, a free carnitine, was preadministered before hepatectomy under such clinical process, the activity of CPT increased higher 1 day after hepatectomy and energy charge after 2 days. These results suggest that preadministration of L-carnitine promotes fatty acid oxidation, and, therefore, is effective for elevating energy matabolism in the regenerating liver.