Iranian Journal of

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Background: 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.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusion: 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.

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Background: Diabetes causes nerve tissue damage and ultimately death of nerve cells, especially in important areas such as the hippocampus. It seems that exercise training and anti-inflammatory supplements can moderate this condition. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of aerobic training exercise and L-carnitine consumption on the levels of hippocampus CNTF and CNTFR proteins in diabetic rat.
Methods: 45 Wistar rats between 250 to 300 gr were randomly divided into six groups, including healthy control groups, sham, diabetic control, diabetes + aerobic exercise, diabetes + L-carnitine supplementation and diabetes + aerobic exercise + L-carnitine supplementation. L-carnitine supplements were divided. Diabetic groups underwent subcutaneous injection of 55 mg / kg STZ. supplementary groups received 100 mg of L-carnitine per day orally. The aerobic exercise program was performed for 6 weeks and 5 days a week. The research variables were measured 24 hours after the last training session by the ELISA technics in the hippocampal tissue. The statistical method of one-way analysis of variance and Toki post –hoc test were used to analyze the data.
Results: The present study showed an significant increase in CNTF and CNTFR protein levels of hippocampal tissue after aerobic exercise and L-carnitine consumption (P = 0.001), which greater effect found in combination manner.
Conclusion: Due to the effect of aerobic exercise and L-carnitine supplementation alone and in interaction with each other on hippocampal tissue, the use of this method can be considered as maintaining neural tissue in diabetes.