EFFECT OF L-CARNITINE AND PALMITOYL-L-CARNITINE ON ERYTHROID COLONY FORMATION IN FETAL MOUSE-LIVER CELL-CULTURE

The administration of L-carnitine to patients undergoing hemodialysis increases hematocrit and improves the response to recombinant human er ythropoietin (rhEPO). This suggests a contribution by carnitine to ery throcyte membrane function or erythropoiesis. We investigated the effe ct of L-carnitine and palmitoyl-L-carnitine on erythropoiesis by asses sing erythroid colony formation in in vitro fetal mouse liver cell cul tures. L-Carnitine or palmitoyl-L-carnitine was added with rhEPO to fe tal mouse liver cell cultures. Doses of L-carnitine of up to 200 mu mo l/l to the culture had no effect on colony formation. In contrast, the addition of above 12.5 mu mol/l palmitoyl-L-carnitine into the cultur e increased colony formation significantly. These results suggest that long-chain acyl carnitine may have an effect on erythropoiesis.