Improvement of myocardial function in diabetic rats after treatment with L-carnitine.

Abstract

The effects of L-carnitine administration on the severity of diabetes were investigated. Serum glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), triglycerides, and ketones from diabetic and normal rats injected for 2 weeks with 3 g/kg/d of either L-carnitine or saline were assayed. Hearts were analyzed for carnitine and long-chain acyl coenzyme A. L-carnitine treatment to diabetic rats significantly reduced serum glucose, FFA, triglycerides, and ketones. In nondiabetic rats, carnitine increased serum ketones while FFA and triglycerides were decreased. L-carnitine treatment to diabetic rats prevented a decrease in myocardial total carnitine content. Long-chain acyl carnitine increased while long-chain acyl coenzyme A decreased. In another experiment, L-carnitine administration (750 mg/kg/d for 14 days) significantly improved the recovery of cardiac output after 60, 90, and 120 minutes of ischemia in diabetic perfused hearts. These results suggest that L-carnitine therapy may reduce the severity of diabetes mellitus and improve myocardial performance.

• Authors: D J Paulson, M J Schmidt, J S Traxler, M T Ramacci, A L Shug
• Journal: Metabolism: clinical and experimental (Metabolism) Vol. 33 Issue 4 Pg. 358-63 (Apr 1984) ISSN: 0026-0495 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6708820 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
• Ketones
• Triglycerides
• Carnitine
• Coenzyme A

Topics

• Animals
• Blood Glucose (analysis)
• Carnitine (metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Coenzyme A (metabolism)
• Coronary Disease (metabolism)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Fatty Acids, Nonesterified (blood)
• Heart (drug effects)
• Ketones (blood)
• Male
• Myocardium (metabolism)
• Perfusion
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred Strains
• Triglycerides (blood)