REPERFUSION-INDUCED ACCUMULATION OF LONG-CHAIN ACYLCARNITINES IN PREVIOUSLY ISCHEMIC MYOCARDIUM

Long-chain acylcarnitines (LCA) have been shown to accumulate during m yocardial ischemia and to contribute to malignant derangements charact eristic of ischemia. We detail the time course of the increase in LCA levels during both ischemia and reperfusion. Evidence indicates an add itional specific reperfusion-induced increase in LCA that peaks at 2 m in and decreases to basal levels by 30 min. This increase in LCA durin g reperfusion is observed after 2-, 10-, or 20-min ischemia and is inh ibited by the presence of the carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT1) inhibitor phenyloxirane carboxylic acid (POCA). A role for increased LCA in mediating ''reperfusion damage'' is not indicated, however, bec ause POCA did not attenuate either the incidence of ventricular fibril lation (VF) during early reperfusion or the survival rate of rats unde rgoing 24-h reperfusion after 10-min occlusion.