Scintigraphic and histopathologic evaluation of the protective effect of L-carnitine on the development of radiation-induced kidney damage in infant rats

INTRODUCTION Radiation-induced nephropathy (RIN) is an impairment of renal function caused by ionizing radiation developing after 6-12 months as acute, or years after chronically. This study aims to clarify whether L-carnitine has a protective effect in the prevention of RIN in an infant rat model or not. MATERIAL-METHOD Two-week-old male forty Wistar albino rats, control (C), L-carnitine alone (LC), irradiation alone (RT), and 30 min before irradiation (L-Carnitine 300 mg/kg, ip RT) separated into the group. The rats in the RT and L-Carnitine RT groups were irradiated with a dose of 8 Gy in a single fraction. All animals underwent both Tc99m DTPA dynamic kidney imaging and Tc99m DMSA static kidney imaging at the end of the three-month follow-up period. Histopathologically, proximal tubular degeneration, tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and glomerular degeneration were also evaluated. RESULTS While the kidney damage caused by irradiation was shown in line with both scintigraphy and histopathology findings, it was shown that L-carnitine did not have any negative effects on the kidney. The protective effect of L-carnitine on radiation-induced kidney damage was demonstrated scintigraphically and histopathologically, even if it was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION L-Carnitine before RT was able to preserve left kidney function. In addition, L-Carnitine before RT resulted in longer survival in statistically significant rats. In infant rats, L-Carnitine may have partially protected the kidney against RT damage and may have increased survival due to its systemic effect.