Effect of L-Carnitine Supplementation on Cardiac Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase Activities and Plasma Carnitine Concentrations in Adriamycin-Treated Rats

摘要

Adriamycin (ADR) inhibits the carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT) system and consequently the transport of long-chain fatty acids across mitochondrial membranes. l-Carnitine (CARN) plays a major role in fatty acid oxidation by translocating activated long-chain fatty acids into the matrix of mitochondria. CARN has been shown to be of benefit in certain cardiac conditions including cardiomyopathy and myocardial infarction. This study was devised to investigate the effect of CARN on altered CPT I and CPT II activity in the cardiomyopathy associated with ADR therapy. We also assessed the effect of CARN on the plasma free, total, and acylcarnitine concentrations. Four groups, each consisting of four male Sprague-Dawley rats, were studied: group 1(n = 4) was not given either ADR or CARN; group 2 (n = 4) was given ADR (15 and 20 mg/kg, respectively, cumulative dose) by i.p. injections for 1 and 2 wk; group 3 (n = 4) was given the same dose of ADR with CARN (200 mg/kg); and group 4 (n = 4) was given CARN (200 mg/kg). The activities of CPT I and CPT II in heart were significantly decreased in the ADR-treated rats (p p p p p Abbreviations: ADR, adriamycin; CARN, l-carnitine; CPT, carnitine palmitoyltransferase