L-Carnitine Pretreatment Protects Slow-Twitch Skeletal Muscles in a Rat Model of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury


Demirel M., Kaya B., Cerkez C., Ertunc M., Sara Y.

VASCULAR AND ENDOVASCULAR SURGERY, vol.47, no.7, pp.540-545, 2013 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 47 Issue: 7
  • Publication Date: 2013
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/1538574413496481
  • Journal Name: VASCULAR AND ENDOVASCULAR SURGERY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.540-545
  • Keywords: ischemia-reperfusion injury, l-carnitine, skeletal muscle, soleus muscle, extensor digitorum longus muscle, contractility, fatigue, ACETYL-L-CARNITINE, LIPID-PEROXIDATION, XANTHINE-OXIDASE, GASTRIC-MUCOSA, SUPEROXIDE, METABOLISM, DISEASE, OXYGEN
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury negatively affects the outcome of surgical interventions for amputated or severely traumatized extremities. This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of l-carnitine on the contractile properties of fast-twitch (extensor digitorum longus [EDL]) and slow-twitch (soleus [SOL]) skeletal muscles following I/R-induced injury in a rat model. Rats were divided into 4 groups (1) saline pretreatment, (2) l-carnitine pretreatment, (3) saline pretreatment and I/R, and (4) l-carnitine pretreatment and I/R. Twitch and tetanic contractions in the EDL and SOL muscles in each group were recorded. Additionally, a fatigue protocol was performed in these muscles. Twitch and tetanic contraction amplitudes were lower in the EDL and SOL muscles in which I/R was induced (P < .01). l-Carnitine pretreatment significantly increased tetanic contraction amplitude in the SOL muscles following I/R (P < .01) but not in the EDL muscles. l-Carnitine pretreatment did not alter the fatigue response in any of the muscles.