The effect of oral l-carnitine on lipoprotein composition in the Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidemic Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

1. We have recently reported the ability of orally administered l-carnitine to lower plasma triglyceride in the Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidemic Rabbit (WHHL), an animal model of familial hyperlipoproteinemia. 2. In the present studies we examined the effect of l-carnitine administration upon individual lipoprotein subfractions in this animal model. 3. Carnitine feeding resulted in a reduction in very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL). 4. Compositional analysis revealed a reduction in core triglyceride content with a concomitant increase in protein and phospholipid in VLDL and low density lipoproteins (LDL). 5. Conversely, electrophoretic mobility and apolipoprotein composition were unchanged with l-carnitine. 6. These results further demonstrate the ability of l-carnitine to modulate lipoprotein lipid composition in this animal model of familial hyperlipoproteinemia.