Effect of intraperitoneal acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) on anxiety-like behaviours in rats

13Citations
Citations of this article
20Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) is an acetyl derivative of carnitine, an endogenous molecule synthesized in vivo and supplemented by diet (mainly via meat and dairy products). Several parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have demonstrated that ALCAR treatment produces beneficial effects in geriatric depression. Since most antidepressants also have anti-anxiety effects we examined whether ALCAR shows anti-anxiety effects in a rat model of anxiety. Compared to a saline-injected control group, chronic administration of ALCAR at doses of 10 and 100 mg/kg (tested 24 h after the last dose administration) showed no effects, whereas doses of 50 and 75 mg/kg significantly reduced anxiety-like behaviours in the elevated plus-maze. Acute ALCAR (100 mg/kg), on the other hand (tested 6 h after administration), demonstrated anxiogenic effects. Our data suggest that chronic ALCAR administration may produce an inverted U-shaped curve of dose-dependent changes in anxiety-like behaviour. The precise mechanism by which ALCAR decreases anxiety-like behaviour after peripheral administration remains to be determined. Copyright © 2004 CINP.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Levine, J., Kaplan, Z., Pettegrew, J. W., McClure, R. J., Gershon, S., Buriakovsky, I., & Cohen, H. (2005). Effect of intraperitoneal acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) on anxiety-like behaviours in rats. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 8(1), 65–74. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1461145704004596

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free