title: Protection of the ischaemic myocardium by L-propionylcarnitine: effects on the recovery of cardiac output after ischaemia and reperfusion, carnitine transport, and fatty acid oxidation.
abstract: The effects of L-propionylcarnitine on the recovery of cardiac contractile performance after global ischaemia and reperfusion were studied in isolated perfused rat hearts. The addition of either 5.5 or 11 mmol X litre-1 L-propionylcarnitine significantly improved the recovery of cardiac output, left ventricular pressure, and dP/dt after 90 min of ischaemia and 15 min of reperfusion. Myocardial adenosine triphosphate and creatine phosphate concentrations were significantly higher in the L-propionylcarnitine treated hearts than in controls, but the concentrations of long chain acyl carnitine and coenzyme A were unaffected. The protecting effects of L-propionylcarnitine were compared with those of L-carnitine and L-acetylcarnitine. A 11 mmol X litre-1 dose of L-propionylcarnitine and L-acetylcarnitine significantly improved the recovery of cardiac output after 90 min of ischaemia and 15 min of reperfusion, but L-carnitine did not. L-Propionylcarnitine was the most protective agent. The effects of these derivatives on L-3H-carnitine transport and 14C-palmitate oxidation were also measured. All of these derivatives competitively inhibited L-3H-carnitine transport in isolated cardiac myocytes, but L-propionylcarnitine was the most potent. Carnitine and L-propionylcarnitine stimulated palmitate oxidation in the homogenate, whereas L-acetylcarnitine inhibited it. In myocytes only L-propionylcarnitine affected palmitate oxidation. These data show that L-propionylcarnitine protects the ischaemic myocardium. Its protection is greater than that for L-carnitine or L-acetylcarnitine, and the difference in effectiveness may relate to the rate of transport into the cells and the effects on fatty acid utilisation.
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D019308:Palmitic Acid; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D010169:Palmitic Acids; D010725:Phosphocreatine; C003223:propionylcarnitine; D019308:Palmitic Acid; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D002331:Carnitine