Although L-carnitine has been reported to have protective effects against ammonia toxicity, conflicting results have also been presented and the mechanisms underlying the protection, if any, are not clear. In the present study, we examined the effects of L-carnitine, D-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine on the neurotoxicity of ammonia. Administration of ammonium acetate (15 mmol/kg) to mice caused seizures, elevation of blood ammonia and urea concentrations, and marked alterations of brain energy metabolites. Pretreatment with either L-carnitine, D-carnitine or acetyl-L-carnitine reduced the frequency of the seizures, prolonged the time until the first fit, lowered the levels of ammonia in the blood and brain, and suppressed the alterations of brain energy metabolites caused by hyperammonemia. there was no significant difference between L- and D-carnitine in the potency to inhibit the seizures. In addition, there was no difference between the two chemicals in the potency to decrease the ammonia contents in the blood and brain, or to suppress the alterations of energy metabolites in the brain. When compared with L-carnitine, however, acetyl-L-carnitine better preserved ATP in the brain, while it lowered ammonia in the blood and brain less markedly. These results show that L-carnitine and its analogues do have the potential to suppress the neurotoxicity of ammonia. Moreover, the results suggest that the protective effects of carnitine against the toxicity of ammonia are systemic, that the action of acetyl-L-carnitine may differ from that of L- or D-carnitine, and that the "classical" function of carnitine is not the sole mechanism underlying the suppression of the neurotoxicity of ammonia.