[The role of carnitine in the energy metabolism of mitochondria and myocardial cells during ischemia and post-ischemic reperfusion].

L-Carnitine was shown to activate similarly or quite similarly the pyruvate + malate oxidation in control and ischemic mitochondria of rabbit heart at the third state. Carnitine did not alter effect of ischemia but decreased respiration at the fourth state. D, L-carnitine did not affect the total content of adenine nucleotides and ATP, the impairment of cell membranes in isolated rat heart under conditions of postischemic reperfusion as well as the coronary flow of perfusate, except of the control aerobic perfusion, where D,L-carnitine increased the coronary flow.