EFFECTS OF PROPIONYL-L-CARNITINE ON CARDIAC DYSFUNCTION IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-DIABETIC RATS

The effects of orally administered propionyl-L-carnitine on cardiac dy sfunction in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were investigat ed. Wistar male rats were divided into four groups: untreated normal, propionyl-L-carnitine (daily for 4 weeks with 3 g/kg orally) -treated normal, untreated diabetic, propionyl-L-carnitine-treated diabetic. Fo ur weeks after streptozotocin administration, plasma lipid levels were increased and myocardial carnitine content was decreased in untreated diabetic rats. These changes were significantly reversed by the propi onyl-L-carnitine treatment. Assessment of cardiac function with isolat ed perfused working hearts revealed a depression of left ventricular d eveloped pressure as well as both maximum positive and negative dP/dt in untreated diabetic as compared with that in normal hearts. Cardiac function at the higher left atrial filling pressures in the propionyl- L-carnitine-treated diabetic rats was improved significantly compared to that in untreated hearts. The data thus suggest that oral administr ation of propionyl-L-carnitine can reduce abnormalities of cardiac fun ction, correlated with a significant increase in myocardial carnitine content and improved lipid metabolism in terms of lowered plasma Lipid s. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.