Neurosci Lett. 1994 Jan 3.
Stimulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion by acetyl-L-carnitine in hypothalamic neurons and GT1 neuronal cells.
Krsmanovic LZ, Virmani MA, Stojilkovic SS, Catt KJ.
Endocrinology and Reproduction Research Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD.
[ PubMed ]

Abstract: Pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion from perifused hypothalamic cells and GT1-1 neuronal cells was significantly increased after culture in medium containing 100 microM acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC). This action of ALC was largely due to an increase in the spike amplitude of GnRH release. In addition, the receptor-mediated release of GnRH by N-methyl-D-aspartic acid and endothelin was significantly increased in perifused cells cultured in ALC-enriched medium. Stimulatory effects of ALC on basal, high K(+)- and agonist-induced GnRH release were also observed during long-term culture of primary hypothalamic neurons. Similar effects of ALC were evident in cultured GT1-1 cells and were accompanied by a significant increase in cell number. These observations in normal and transformed GnRH neurons demonstrate that ALC promotes the growth and secretory activity of neuropeptide-producing cells of the hypothalamus.