title: L-carnitine pretreatment protects slow-twitch skeletal muscles in a rat model of ischemia-reperfusion injury.
abstract: Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury negatively affects the outcome of surgical interventions for amputated or severely traumatized extremities. This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of l-carnitine on the contractile properties of fast-twitch (extensor digitorum longus [EDL]) and slow-twitch (soleus [SOL]) skeletal muscles following I/R-induced injury in a rat model. Rats were divided into 4 groups (1) saline pretreatment, (2) l-carnitine pretreatment, (3) saline pretreatment and I/R, and (4) l-carnitine pretreatment and I/R. Twitch and tetanic contractions in the EDL and SOL muscles in each group were recorded. Additionally, a fatigue protocol was performed in these muscles. Twitch and tetanic contraction amplitudes were lower in the EDL and SOL muscles in which I/R was induced (P < .01). l-Carnitine pretreatment significantly increased tetanic contraction amplitude in the SOL muscles following I/R (P < .01) but not in the EDL muscles. l-Carnitine pretreatment did not alter the fatigue response in any of the muscles.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Lokman Hekim Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mert
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demirel
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cerkez
authors.forename: Mert
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ertunc
authors.forename: Yildirim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000187:drug effects; D018656:Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / Q000187:drug effects; D018657:Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / Q000187:drug effects*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D002331:Carnitine
keywords:   l-carnitine; contractility; extensor digitorum longus muscle; fatigue; ischemia–reperfusion injury; skeletal muscle; soleus muscle