The effect of l-Carnitine on cholesterol metabolism in rat (Rattus bubalus) hepatocyte cells

Abstract 1. 1. This paper concerns the study of the effect of l -carnitine on cholesterol metabolism in rat hepatocyte cells BRL-3A. In this research the binding of [ 125 I]human low density lipoprotein (LDL) to BRL-3A cells and 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase activity (HMG-CoA reductase activity) after l -carnitine incubation were studied. 2. 2. It was found that l -carnitine is able to increase either the [ 125 I]LDL binding or inhibit the HMG-CoA reductase activity in BRL-3A cells. 3. 3. These results indicate that l -carnitine affects the cholesterol metabolism through an inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase activity that could be responsible for the increased [ 125 I]LDL binding in rat hepatocytes.