Investigation of the protective effects of L-carnitine and L-arginine on cardiovascular changes induced by ACTH and dexamethasone in rabbits

Aim: To determine the protective effects of L-carnitine on cardiovascular changes that may occur in rabbits treated with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and dexamethasone (DEX). Materials and methods: Rabbits of equal weight were divided into 7 groups with 6 animals in each. Blood samples were collected from all groups on days 1, 7, and 14, and blood pressure values and ECG monitoring were recorded. Nitric oxide (NO), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), and troponin I (TnI) levels were determined in blood samples. Heart rate, QT, and corrected QT (QTc) values were calculated from ECG records. Results: The QT and QTc times were prolonged significantly (P < 0.001) in the ACTH-treated groups compared to the control group, and L-carnitine had no protective effect. Moreover, CK-MB (P < 0.05) and TnI (P < 0.001) levels were higher in the ACTH-treated groups than they were in the control group. Conclusion: Application of ACTH results in prolongation of QT and QTc intervals and increases in GK-MB and TnI levels, which are indicators of heart muscle damage.