title: L-carnitine and propionyl-L-carnitine improve endothelial dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats: different participation of NO and COX-products.
abstract: L-carnitine and propionyl-L-carnitine are supplements to therapy in cardiovascular pathologies. Their effect on endothelial dysfunction in hypertension was studied after treatment with either 200 mg/kg of L-carnitine or propionyl-L-carnitine during 8 weeks of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). Endothelial function was assessed in aortic rings by carbachol-induced relaxation (CCh 10(-8) to 10(-4) M) and factors involved were characterized in the presence of the inhibitors: L-NAME, indomethacin, the TXA2/PGH2 Tp receptor antagonist ICI-192,605 and the thromboxane synthetase inhibitor-Tp receptor antagonist, Ro-68,070. The effect on phenylephrine-induced contractions was also observed. To identify the nature of vasoactive COX-derived products, enzyme-immunoassay of incubation media was assessed. Involvement of reactive oxygen species was evaluated by incubating with superoxide dismutase and catalase. Nitric oxide production was evaluated by serum concentration of NO2+NO3.Treatment with both compounds improved endothelial function of rings from SHR without blood pressure change. Propionyl-L-carnitine increased NO participation in WKY and SHR. L-carnitine reduced endothelium-dependent responses to CCh in WKY due to an increase of TXA2 production. In both SHR and WKY, L-carnitine enhanced concentration of PGI2 and increased participation of NO. Results in the presence of SOD plus catalase show that it might be related to antioxidant properties of L-carnitine and propionyl-L-carnitine. Comparison between the effect of both compounds shows that both may reduce reactive oxygen species and increase NO participation in endothelium-dependent relaxations in SHR. However, only L-carnitine was able to increase the release of the vasodilator PGI2 and even enhanced TXA2 production in normotensive rats.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, C/Profesor Garcia-Gonzalez no 2. 41012 Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez de Sotomayor
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perez-Guerrero
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gomez-Amores
authors.forename: Carmen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Vazquez
authors.forename: M Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Herrera
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000378:metabolism; D006973:Hypertension / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000378:metabolism; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; C003223:propionylcarnitine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D011464:Epoprostenol; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D002331:Carnitine