BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the regulatory effects of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) on atherosclerosis in Wister rats and to explore its anti-atherosclerotic mechanism.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We randomly divided 32 Wister rats into 4 groups: a normal diet group (control group, n=8), a normal diet+ALCAR group (ALCAR group, n=8), an atherosclerosis group (AS group, n=8), and an atherosclerosis+ALCAR group (AS+ALCAR group, n=8). The serum lipid distribution, oxidative stress, inflammatory factors and adiponectin (APN) in the blood, and heart and aortic tissues were determined using the standard assay kits, xanthine oxidase method, and ELISA, respectively. HE staining was performed to observe aortic pathology structure change, and the level of angiotensin II (AngII) in the aorta was assessed using radioimmunoassay. In addition, real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis were applied to detect the expression of iNOS, IL-1β, TNF-α, and CRP in the aortic and heart tissues.

RESULTS: Compared with the AS group, the levels of serum TC, TG, LDL, and VLDL in rats decreased significantly, while HDL level significantly increased in the AS+ALCAR group. ALCAR administration enhanced the SOD and GSH-Px activities and decreased MDA activity. APN level was significantly elevated in the AS group, but ALCAR had no significant effect on APN. Further, ALCAR reduced the expressions of inflammation factors TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, and CRP, and the concentration of AngII in serum, aortic, and heart tissues.

CONCLUSIONS: ALCAR can inhibit the expressions of inflammatory factors and antioxidation to suppress the development of atherosclerosis by adjusting blood lipid in the myocardium of AS rats.

Keywords: Acetylcarnitine, atherosclerosis, Adiponectin, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, C-Reactive Protein, Inflammation Mediators, Lipids, Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II, RNA, Messenger