A STUDY OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL, FREE, SHORT-CHAIN ACYL AND LONG-CHAIN ACYL CARNITINE IN WHOLE-BLOOD AND PLASMA OF ARABIAN SAND GAZELLES (GAZELLA-SUBGUTTUROSA-MARICA)

This study was conducted to investigate the presence of total carnitin e, free carnitine, short-chain acyl carnitine, long-chain acyl carniti ne, acyl carnitine levels and the ratio of acyl carnitine to free carn itine in erythrocytes, whole blood and plasma of Arabian sand gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa marica). Results showed erythrocyte levels of c arnitine significantly higher compared to either whole blood or plasma of Arabian sand gazelles (p<0.001). Moreover, the relative distributi on of acyl carnitine was higher in erythrocytes compared to most speci es (p<0.001), however, it was similar to the Arabian camel (p<0.1). Th e ratio of acyl carnitine to free carnitine was significantly higher i n erythrocytes, whole blood and plasma compared to most species (p<0.0 01). The observed discrepancies in carnitine levels among species and different tissues is well known, however, the reasons for these discre pancies are obscure. The higher carnitine content and a higher acyl ca rnitine to free carnitine ratio in blood of Arabian sand gazelles may suggest that these animals possess an adaptive mechanism which may be found in other desert animal species. This is the first report describ ing deer carnitine distributions.