Enhancement of Acylcarnitine Levels in Small Intestine of Abdominal Irradiation Rats Might Relate to Fatty Acid β-Oxidation Pathway Disequilibration

Objective This study aims to analyze the alteration of carnitine profile in the small intestine of abdominal irradiation-induced intestinal injury rats and explore the possible reason for the altered carnitine profile. Methods The abdomens of 15 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were irradiated with 0, 10, and 15 Gy of 60 Co gamma rays. The carnitine profile in the small intestine and plasma samples of SD rats at 72 h after abdominal irradiated with 0 Gy or 10 Gy of 60 Co gamma rays were measured by targeted metabolomics. The changes of fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO), including the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) and acyl-CoA dehydrogenases, were analyzed in the small intestine samples of SD rats after exposed to 0, 10, and 15 Gy groups. Results There were eleven acylcarnitines in the small intestine and fourteen acylcarnitines in the plasma of the rat model significantly enhanced, respectively (P < .05). The expression level and activity of CPT1 in the small intestine were remarkably increased (P < .05), and the activity of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase in the small intestine was noticeably reduced (P < .01) after abdominal irradiation. Conclusion The enhanced acylcarnitine levels in the small intestine of abdominal irradiation rats might relate to the FAO pathway disequilibration.