Effect of propionyl-L-carnitine on mechanical function of isolated rabbit heart.
We studied the acute and chronic effects of propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC) on mechanical function of isolated rabbit heart. Propionyl-L-carnitine was either directly delivered in the perfusate (10(-9) to 10(-3) M) or intraperitoneally injected (250 mg/kg) for 10 days to the animals. When added acutely, propionyl-L-carnitine had no effect on inotropism, heart rate, or coronary perfusion pressure. When added chronically, propionyl-L-carnitine induced a positive inotropic effect, with no changes in heart rate or in coronary perfusion pressure, and it ameliorated the pressure-volume relationship. This effect of propionyl-L-carnitine was independent of the calcium concentration of the perfusion medium, but it was correlated with an increase in the myocardial content of propionyl-L-carnitine. The effect was not apparent after 5 days of treatment, although the tissue content of propionyl-L-carnitine remained unchanged. These data suggest that propionyl-L-carnitine, when given chronically, exerts a positive inotropic effect.
Ferrari
R
R
Cattedra di Cardiologia, Universita degli Studi di Brescia, Italy.
Pasini
E
E
Condorelli
E
E
Boraso
A
A
Lisciani
R
R
Marzo
A
A
Visiou
O
O
D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D011817:Rabbits
C003223:propionylcarnitine; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine