title: Effects of L-propionylcarnitine on electrical and mechanical alterations induced by amphiphilic lipids in isolated guinea pig ventricular muscle.
abstract: We examined the effects of L-propionylcarnitine (Prop. C), a short-chain acylcarnitine, on amphiphile (L-lysophosphatidylcholine or L-palmitoylcarnitine)-induced electrophysiological and ultrastructural changes in isolated guinea pig ventricular papillary muscles, under acidic conditions (pH 6.9). Conventional microelectrode, tension-recording, and electron microscope techniques were used. Both amphiphiles, at a concentration of 10(-4) M, significantly decreased the resting membrane potential, action potential amplitude, and action potential duration, but increased the developed and resting tension. Such amphiphile-induced electrical changes were not observed in muscles pretreated with the beta-blocker, atenolol, although the mechanical changes remained unaffected. The application of Prop. C (10(-2) M), in the continued presence of the amphiphiles caused a return of the action potential duration and the developed tension to the control level. However, the resting potential and action potential amplitude remained unaffected; in fact, the maximum upstroke velocity (Vmax) of the action potential tended to decrease further. Pretreatment with Prop. C prevented all the amphiphile-induced electrophysiological and mechanical changes, except for Vmax. Electron microscopic studies revealed that amphiphile-induced ultrastructural changes were prevented, at least in part, in the presence of Prop. C. Thus, Prop. C antagonizes some of deleterious effects of amphiphiles, such as lysophosphatidylcholine and palmitoylcarnitine, upon the electrical and mechanical activities of the ventricular muscle, under acidic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical College of Oita, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aomine
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arita
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009206:Myocardium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010172:Palmitoylcarnitine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; C003223:propionylcarnitine; D010172:Palmitoylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine