Protective effect of L-carnitine in a rat model of retinopathy of prematurity

Aim: To investigate the effects of L-carnitine (LC) on rats with oxygen-induced retinopathy. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 40 Sprague Dawley rat pups. The rat pups were randomly divided into 4 groups: group 1 (n = 10), the healthy control group with intraperitoneal 0.1 mL/day physiological saline injection; group 2 (n = 10), exposed to hyperoxygen, did not receive LC but received 0.1 mL/day physiological saline intraperitoneally; group 3 (n = 10), exposed to hyperoxygen and received 100 mg/kg/day LC intraperitoneally; group 4 (n = 10), exposed to hyperoxygen and received 200 mg/kg/day LC intraperitoneally. After postnatal day 20, the rat pups were killed and an histological examination was performed on the eyes, in addition to the detection of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Results: The retinal and choroidal histopathological changes due to hyperoxygen were less in group 3 and minimal in group 4 compared with group 2. Compared with the healthy control group, the increase in the MDA levels in group 2 was significant (P < 0.05). Compared with group 2 there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the MDA levels in groups 3 and 4. Conclusion: LC has beneficial effects on oxygen-induced retinopathy in rats in terms of histopathological changes and MDA levels.