title: Protective action of acetylcarnitine on NADPH-induced lipid peroxidation of cardiac microsomes.
abstract: Rat cardiac microsomes treated with NADPH generated a chemiluminescence, detected by the chemilumigenic probe lucigenin. The chemiluminescent signal, which is an index of lipid peroxidation, was found to be inhibited by acetylcarnitine in a dose-dependent way. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and inhibitors of arachidonate metabolism were also effective in preventing light emission. The combined action of acetylcarnitine plus SOD and acetylcarnitine plus indomethacin suggested a possible common target for the compounds. When tested on superoxide production from isolated human neutrophils detected both by luminol-amplified chemiluminescence and cytochrome C reduction, acetylcarnitine did not show any inhibitory effect. The results of these experiments demonstrate the antioxidant properties of acetylcarnitine, even if they cannot clarify the specific target of the drug action.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Schinetti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertelli
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D008861:Microsomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009249:NADP / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D013481:Superoxides; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D009249:NADP; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D002331:Carnitine