THE EFFECT OF L - CARNITINE ON SERUM NITRIC OXIDE LEVEL AND ANGIOTENSIN CONVERTING ENZYME ACTIVITY IN STZ - INDUCED DIABETIC AND NORMAL RATS

Cardiovascular disease including hypertension are complications of long-standing diabetes. A few Studies had shown the positive effects of L-carnitine on hypertension. In this study, the possible effects of L-carnitne on nitric oxide (NO) levels and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in serum as well as systolic blood pressure (SBP) in diabetic and normal rats were studied. In this study forty rats were used in four groups including non-treated control (C), L-carnitne treated control (CT), diabetic (D) and L-carnitne treated diabetic (DT). Diabetes was induced in rats by injection of stereptozotosin. Both of C & D groups had a free access to food and water and CT & DT groups were received daily dose of L-carnation in drinking water. At the end of 12 weeks SBP, serum NO and ACE activity were measured. Systolic blood pressure was significantly decreased in DT group compared to D group. Serum ACE activity was also significantly decreased in DT group compared to D group and the serum NO levels were significantly increased in DT & CT groups compared to D & C groups respectively. Finally it could be concluded that L-carnitine may reduce SBP in diabetic rats via elevation of serum NO levels and reduction of serum ACE activity.