Abstract
The effects of levocarnitine chloride [LC-80, (-)-(R)-(3-carboxy-2-hydroxypropyl)-trimethylammonium chloride] on the oxidation of [U-14C] palmitate, [U-14C] glucose and [2-3H] glucose under hypoxic conditions in homogenates from the rat heart were investigated. LC-80 at concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 mM caused significant and concentrationdependent increases in the depressed 14CO2 production from [U-14C] palmitate or [U-14C]-glucose oxidation under hypoxia up to 50 min after the addition of LC-80. In contrast, a marked increase in 3H2O production from [2-8H] glucose oxidation under hypoxia was observed, and LC-80 at concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 mM caused further significant and concentration-dependent enhancement of 3H2O production up to 50 min after the addition of LC-80. Moreover, LC-80 at a concentrations of 1.0 mM significantly restored the marked depression of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity and mitochondrial respiratory function under hypoxia. These results suggested that LC-80 has an improving effect on myocardial metabolism under ischemia by enhancing fatty acid and glucose metabolisms.
