Cardiomegaly in the juvenile visceral steatosis (JVS) mouse is reduced with acute elevation of heart short-chain acyl-carnitine level after L-carnitine injection

The long-term administration of L-carnitine was, very effective in preventi ng cardiomegaly in juvenile visceral steatosis; (JVS) mice, which was confi rmed by heart weight as well as the lipid contents in heart tissue. After i .p. injection of L-carnitine, the concentration of free carnitine in heart remained constant, although serum free carnitine level increased up to 80-f old. On the other hand, a significant increase in short-chain acylcarnitine level in heart was observed. These results suggest that increased levels o f short-chain acyl-carnitine, not free carnitine, might he a key compound i n the protective effect of L-carnitine administration in JVS mice. (C) 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.