title: Effects of carnitine supplementation on myocardial function and energy provision in experimental uraemia
abstract: Cardiovascular complications are the leading cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease. The uraemic heart undergoes remodelling and changes in metabolic function. Experimental uraemia produces a reduction in the myocardial energy reserve phosphocreatine in parallel with left ventricular hypertrophy and depletion of serum carnitine. This study investigated the effects of chronic L-carnitine supplementation on myocardial substrate metabolism and function in the experimental uraemia. Experimental uraemia was induced surgically in male Sprague-Dawley rats via a subtotal nephrectomy. Carnitine was administered continuously via subcutaneous mini-osmotic pumps. Cardiac function and substrate oxidation were assessed in vitro by means of isovolumic perfusion using 13C NMR, at 3 and 6 weeks. Uraemic animals exhibited anaemia, kidney dysfunction and systemic carnitine deficiency but no myocardial tissue carnitine deficiency. Myocardial hypertrophy was abolished following carnitine supplementation. This was associated with a reduction in glucose utilisation. In summary carnitine supplementation prevents cardiac hypertrophy, and this effect is amplified with the duration of treatment. This is associated with a reduction in myocardial glucose utilisation but no significant modulation of myocardial function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences and Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Kingston-upon-Hull, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: Veena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhandari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014511:Uremia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D002331:Carnitine