Effect of L-carnitine on apoptosis and oxidant damage of cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation in vitro / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To examine the effects of L-carnitine on apoptosis and oxidant injury in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation and its possible mechanism. METHODS: The cultured cardiomyocytes were divided into three groups, control, A/R group (anoxia for 120 min, reoxygenation for 240 min) and L-carnitine treatment group, in which cells were exposed to 20 mg/L, 50 mg/L, 100 mg/L, 200 mg/L L-carnitine respectively at 2 h before anoxia. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were examined, and the apoptosis was determined by flow of cytometry (FCM). In addition, the ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: In A/R group, SOD and SDH activities were lower, the apoptosis rate and MDA content were higher than those in control group (P