Effect of propionyl-L-carnitine on mechanical function of isolated rabbit heart

✍ Scribed by R. Ferrari; E. Pasini; E. Condorelli; A. Boraso; R. Lisciani; A. Marzo; O. Visiou

• Publisher: Springer US
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 646 KB
• Volume: 5
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0920-3206
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00128239

✦ Synopsis

We studied the acute and chronic effects of propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC) on mechanical function of isolated rabbit heart. Propionyl-L-carnitine was either directly delivered in the perfusate (10(-9) to 10(-3) M) or intraperitoneally injected (250 mg/kg) for 10 days to the animals. When added acutely, propionyl-L-carnitine had no effect on inotropism, heart rate, or coronary perfusion pressure. When added chronically, propionyl-L-carnitine induced a positive inotropic effect, with no changes in heart rate or in coronary perfusion pressure, and it ameliorated the pressure-volume relationship. This effect of propionyl-L-carnitine was independent of the calcium concentration of the perfusion medium, but it was correlated with an increase in the myocardial content of propionyl-L-carnitine. The effect was not apparent after 5 days of treatment, although the tissue content of propionyl-L-carnitine remained unchanged. These data suggest that propionyl-L-carnitine, when given chronically, exerts a positive inotropic effect.