Effects of L-carnitine on action potential of canine papillary muscle impaired by long chain acyl carnitine.

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Abstract
The electrophysiological effects of long chain acyl carnitine was examined and the protective effect of L-carnitine on the transmembrane action potential impaired by long chain acyl carnitine was evaluated. Using standard microelectrode techniques, transmembrane action potentials were recorded from isolated canine papillary muscle. Palmitoyl carnitine (0.3 and 0.6 mM) decreased the resting membrane potential, action potential amplitude and maximum upstroke velocity of phase 0, and shortened action potential duration and effective refractory period in a concentration-dependent manner. Application of L-carnitine (25 mM) prevented the effect of palmitoyl carnitine (0.3 mM) on the transmembrane action potential. Apparently, long chain acyl carnitine plays an important role in arrhythmogenesis, and the effect is prevented by L-carnitine.