Cyclosporine-induced lipid peroxidation and propionyl carnitine protective effect.

Cell and tissue lipoperoxidation of the kidney induced by cyclosporine through the release of reactive oxygen species has recently been pointed out to be one of the factors responsible for the toxic phenomena related to the administration of cyclosporine. Our previous research on propionyl carnitine had shown an antilipoperoxidative effect of this substance on isolated cells such as erythrocytes and leukocytes, and also on the endothelial, vasal and cardiac tissues. In the experiments presented herein we also examined if propionyl carnitine could carry out its already well-known antilipoperoxidative effect in the renal tissue, and if this mechanism could be taken into consideration in order to explain the protective effect of propionyl carnitine against cyclosporine induced toxicity. Trials were carried out on isolated and perfused rat kidneys, and we were able to observe that propionyl carnitine exerted a protective action on toxic lipid peroxidation phenomena induced by cyclosporine. The results we obtained, together with other mechanisms which we had already proved regarding the intense protective activity of propionyl carnitine on cyclosporine-induced nephrotoxicity, complete the complex picture that describes the protective activity of propionyl carnitine against cyclosporine toxicity.