Acetyl-l-carnitine normalizes the impaired long-term potentiation and spine density in a rat model of global ischemia.

Highlights: [•] ALC restores impaired LTP to the control level in the ischemic hippocampus. [•] As a result, the spine density of CA1 pyramidal cells normalizes. [•] This is the first demonstration that ALC can induce spine genesis in the CA1 region. [•] ALC can be administered safely, even at high doses. [•] ALC does not influence normal LTP in healthy rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]