The effect of L-carnitine administered to pregnant mice on reproductive performance of female offsprings

Abstract

Carnitine was detected at the beginning of the previous. In the last 30 years, interest in the metabolism and functions of carnitine has steadily increased. Carnitine plays an essential role in fatty acid metabolism by facilitating the transport of long-chain free fatty acids into the mitochondrial matrix, making them available for β-oxidation, which is the most efficient metabolic pathway for energy production. The present study was performed to determine the effects of L-carnitine administered to pregnant mice on some parameters of reproductive performance for their female offspring. Sixty healthy female mice (age: 6 weeks) were used in this study, and divided into two equal groups including control group (mothers administered distilled water during gestation period)
and treated group (mothers administered 1 mg/Kg L-carnitine during gestation period). Blood samples were taken from their female offspring for assessment of serum hormones (FSH, LH and E2). Also, weight of reproductive system for female offspring was recorded, and then histological sections were prepared for the uterus and ovary to measure the diameters uterine gland and ovary, in addition to measure endometrial thickness. Significant elevation (P<0.01) was observed in the levels of serum gonadotropins (FSH and LH) and E2 for the treated group as compared to the control group. Weight of female reproductive system for the treated group was highly significant increased (P<0.01) as compared to the control group. Also, significant increment (P<0.05) was noticed in the thickness of endometrium for the treated as compared to the control group. Similarly, diameters of ovary and uterine glands for treated group were increased significantly (P<0.05) when compared to the control group. Conclusion: Administration low doses of L-carnitine to pregnant mice have positive effects on reproductive performance of their female offspring. Further studies are recommended to investigate effects of L-carnitine to pregnant mice on oogenesis for their female offspring.