Rifaximin enhances the L‑carnitine‑mediated preventive effects on skeletal muscle atrophy in cirrhotic rats by modulating the gut‑liver‑muscle axis.

ABSTRACT: The gut‑liver‑muscle axis is associated with the development of sarcopenia in liver cirrhosis. The present study aimed to illustrate the combined effects of rifaximin and L‑carnitine on skeletal muscle atrophy in cirrhotic rats with steatohepatitis. For this purpose, a total of 344 Fischer rats were fed a choline‑deficient L‑amino acid‑defined (CDAA) diet with the daily oral administration of rifaximin (100 mg/kg) and/or L‑carnitine (200 mg/kg), and measurements of psoas muscle mass index and forelimb grip strength were performed. After feeding for 12 weeks, blood samples, and liver, ileum and gastrocnemius muscle tissues were harvested. The effects of L‑carnitine on rat myocytes were assessed using in vitro assays. Treatment with rifaximin attenuated hyperammonemia and liver fibros

SUBMITTER: Murata K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9242656 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature