Fig. 5. L-carnitine suppressed hypertonic stress-induced increases of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration.

A Hypertonic challenge (450 mOsmol/l) induced an increase in Ca²⁺ influx (n = 55) whereas non-treated control cells maintained a constant Ca²⁺ baseline (n = 13). B Same experiment as shown in A, but in the presence of L-carnitine. L-carnitine (1 mmol/l) clearly suppressed the hypertonic-induced Ca²⁺ increase (n = 73). C Summary of the experiments with hypertonicity and L-carnitine. The asterisks (*) designate significant increases in [Ca²⁺]_i with hypertonicity (t = 300 s; n = 55; p < 0.005; paired tested) compared to control (t = 100 s). The hashtags (#) indicate statistically significant differences in fluorescence ratios between hypertonic challenge with and without L-carnitine (t = 300 s; n = 55–73; p < 0.005; non-paired tested).