Carnitine transport in isolated adult rat heart myocytes and the effect of 7,8-diOH chlorpromazine.

We studied the carnitine transport system in isolated adult rat heart myocytes able to tolerate physiological concentrations of calcium. Carnitine uptake occurred against a concentration gradient and was inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP). The transport system had a Km of 60 microM and a Vmax of 110 pmol/mg protein per hour. The carnitine precursor deoxycarnitine, acetylcarnitine, and both the D and L isomers were effective inhibitors of uptake. The transport of carnitine was not dependent on sodium ions, but was stimulated by decreasing concentrations of calcium ions. Decreased uptake was observed in the presence of beta-adrenergic agonists and antagonists, dibutyrl cyclic AMP, local anesthetics, and ouabain. No significant alteration of uptake was effected by atropine, carbachol or a variety of tricyclic agents. The auto-oxidation product of 7,8-dihydroxychlorpromazine (7,8-diOH CPZ) decreased carnitine efflux from myocytes, which were highly permeable to low molecular weight compounds. We found that this effect was not substrate specific, and is discussed as possibly resulting from a change in the arrangement or state of polymerization of subcellular structural components.