The Study Of The Preservation Effect Of Levo-Carnitine On Isolated Rat Heart

Objective: In order to evaluate the preservation effects of levo-carnitine in isolated rat hearts model during hypothermic ischemia, we add levo-carnitine into the commonly used preservation solutions: HTK and UW solutions. We observe the enzymes release of the leakage, the ATP content of the myocardium. This can provide the experimental data for the choice of the preservation solutions in clinical practise; and can afford some experience for the modification of the preservation solutions.Methods: We randomly divided 25 male Wistar rats into 5 groups:, HTK, UW , HTK+ levo-carnitine(6g/L),UW+ levo-carnitine(6g/L) and Control. All hearts, except control hearts, were preserved by cold storage (6 hours, 4℃) in respective solutions. We used isolated non-working-heart preparation to asses quality of heart preservation.Results: In the tested groups, group HTK+levo-carnitine was compared with group HTK, and group UW+levo-carnitine was compared with group UW. The solutions containing levo-carnitine(6g/L) had a higher mean left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) (222.3±34.9, 162.9±8.4, 132.7±13.1, 94.2±15.9mmHg, P<0.01). Levo-carnitine containing solutions showed remarkably decreased release of CK-MB compared to group HTK and UW (1.73±0.28, 2.80±0.18, 4.69±0.38, 6.27±0.68IU/L, P<0.01). The content of myocardial ATP was higher (33.82±1.93, 29.68±1.75, 24.52±1.69,18.26±1.56ug/g, P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively) in group HTK+levo-carnitine and group UW+levo-carnitine than that in group HTK and UW.Conclusion: Levo-carnitine improves the hypothermic preservation of isolated rat hearts in HTK and UW solutions.