title: Protection of the reperfused heart by L-propionylcarnitine.
abstract: The effects of L-propionylcarnitine on mechanical function, creatine phosphate and ATP content, and lactate dehydrogenase leakage were studied in isolated perfused rat hearts exposed to global no-flow ischemia for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 20 min. Five and 10 mM L-propionylcarnitine resulted in a 100% recovery of left ventricular-developed pressure, whereas the recovery was only 40% in the hearts perfused without this agent. Ischemia-reperfusion caused a 85% loss of creatine phosphate and a 77% loss of ATP, which was prevented by 10 mM L-propionylcarnitine. Five millimolar L-propionylcarnitine protected the heart from the loss of creatine phosphate but not from the loss of ATP. Ten millimolar L-propionylcarnitine failed to improve the postischemic left ventricular-developed pressure, when it was added to the perfusate only after ischemia. L-propionylcarnitine alleviated the decrease of coronary flow in the reperfused hearts. Lactate dehydrogenase leakage was aggravated in the beginning of the reperfusion period by 10 mM L-propionylcarnitine. This adverse effect was, however, transient. L-Propionylcarnitine provides protection for the postischemic reperfused heart in a dose-dependent manner. The optimal time for administration is before the ischemic insult. High doses of this compound may perturb cell membrane integrity. Moreover, the present data point to an intracellular, metabolic, and perhaps anaplerotic mechanism of action of L-propionylcarnitine in cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Leipälä
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Najibi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Massoumi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Packer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000378:metabolism; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000378:metabolism; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D010725:Phosphocreatine; C003223:propionylcarnitine; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D002331:Carnitine