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Carnitine supplementation improves myocardial function in hearts from ischemic diabetic and euglycemic rats
V A Keller1, B Toporoff, R M Raziano
1Department of Surgery, Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|January 6, 1999
Summary
Acute L-carnitine supplementation improved heart function in both diabetic and euglycemic rats after ischemia. This study shows carnitine benefits myocardial recovery in diabetic conditions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Metabolic Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus is linked to nonischemic myocardial dysfunction.
- Long-term L-carnitine therapy may attenuate this dysfunction.
- The impact of acute L-carnitine on ischemic/reperfused rat hearts is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of acute L-carnitine supplementation on rat hearts subjected to ischemia and reperfusion.
- To compare outcomes in both euglycemic and diabetic models.
Main Methods:
- Diabetes induced in rats using streptozocin; controls received saline.
- Hearts perfused with standard or L-carnitine-supplemented Krebs-Henseleit solution.
- Hearts underwent 20 minutes of normothermic ischemia followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion.
Main Results:
- L-carnitine significantly improved left ventricular developed pressure in both diabetic and euglycemic hearts post-reperfusion (p < 0.01).
- Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was significantly lower in diabetic hearts with L-carnitine supplementation (p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- Acute L-carnitine supplementation enhances myocardial recovery following ischemia and reperfusion.
- These benefits were observed in both diabetic and euglycemic rat hearts.
- L-carnitine shows potential for improving outcomes in ischemic heart conditions, particularly in diabetic patients.