Biomaterial Database

Carnitine depletion in rat pups of lactating mothers given sodium pivalate. 1995

A T Davis

Department of Surgery, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, USA.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pivalate administration in the pregnant and lactating rat upon tissue carnitine concentrations in 1- and 5-day-old rat pups, as well as in the lactating rats. At 17 days of gestation, 5 rats began receiving 20 mmol/l sodium pivalate in their drinking water, while an additional 5 rats (control) received equimolar NaHCO3. There were no significant differences in litter size, or in pup weights at day 1 (p > 0.05). However, the pups from the pivalate group did weigh significantly less at 5 days of age relative to the control group. Neonatal rats in the pivalate group had significantly depressed levels of total carnitine in plasma, heart and liver, relative to the control group, at both 1 and 5 days of age. Similar depressions were noted for the lactating rats from the pivalate group. This study demonstrates the utility of pivalate administration in depressing carnitine concentrations in newborn rats.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007774	Lactation	The processes of milk secretion by the maternal MAMMARY GLANDS after PARTURITION. The proliferation of the mammary glandular tissue, milk synthesis, and milk expulsion or let down are regulated by the interactions of several hormones including ESTRADIOL; PROGESTERONE; PROLACTIN; and OXYTOCIN.	Lactation, Prolonged,Milk Secretion,Lactations, Prolonged,Milk Secretions,Prolonged Lactation,Prolonged Lactations
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008892	Milk	The off-white liquid secreted by the mammary glands of humans and other mammals. It contains proteins, sugar, lipids, vitamins, and minerals.	Cow Milk,Cow's Milk,Milk, Cow,Milk, Cow's
D009206	Myocardium	The muscle tissue of the HEART. It is composed of striated, involuntary muscle cells (MYOCYTES, CARDIAC) connected to form the contractile pump to generate blood flow.	Muscle, Cardiac,Muscle, Heart,Cardiac Muscle,Myocardia,Cardiac Muscles,Heart Muscle,Heart Muscles,Muscles, Cardiac,Muscles, Heart
D010421	Pentanoic Acids	Straight-chain CARBOXYLIC ACIDS with the general formula C5H10O2.	Acids, Pentanoic
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D002331	Carnitine	A constituent of STRIATED MUSCLE and LIVER. It is an amino acid derivative and an essential cofactor for fatty acid metabolism.	Bicarnesine,L-Carnitine,Levocarnitine,Vitamin BT,L Carnitine
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014018	Tissue Distribution	Accumulation of a drug or chemical substance in various organs (including those not relevant to its pharmacologic or therapeutic action). This distribution depends on the blood flow or perfusion rate of the organ, the ability of the drug to penetrate organ membranes, tissue specificity, protein binding. The distribution is usually expressed as tissue to plasma ratios.	Distribution, Tissue,Distributions, Tissue,Tissue Distributions