Effect of short term treatment of L-carnitine on tissue ACE activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes is commonly related to the both microvascular as well as macrovascular complications. It appears that both metabolic and hemodynamic factors interact to create these problems. In this study the effects of orally administered L-carnitine, a natural amino acid, on ACE activity in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Streptozotocin (60mg/kg body weight) was given intraperitoneally. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: untreated normal (C), L-carnitine treated normal (CT), untreated diabetics (D), L-carnitine-treated diabetics (DT). CT and DT received daily L-carnitine 1g/kg orally for 3 weeks after inducing diabetes. The ACE activities in aorta, heart and kidney homogenates was measured at the end of 3 weeks. They were significantly increased in D compared to C group (P<0.05) and significantly decreased in aorta, heart and kidney in DT compared to D group. In conclusion, L-carnitine can reduce tissue ACE activity in aorta, heart and kidney in streptozotocin diabetic rats, which may be due to higher NO production.