Background: Hyperlipidemia is a disorder in metabolism which means an abnormal increase in levels of lipids (as cholesterol) and lipid-protein in the blood. It is one of the risk factors that mainly cause atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, cerebral stroke, and renal failure. Simvastatin (S) is one of the most prescribed drugs frequently all over the world due to its excellent performance as hypolipidemic and its relatively low price. L-carnitine (LC) is a nutritional supplement supporting with clinical challenges such as dyslipidemia, anorexia & physical performance. This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of LC on the skeletal muscle of hyperlipidemic rats treated with (S).
Materials and Methods: Thirty senile male albino rats were used, divided into five equal groups as follows: control group (GI) and the other four groups were fed the high-fat diet for three weeks till the occurrence of hyperlipidemia. GII: was fed the high-fat diet for three weeks (hyperlipidemic) then sacrificed. GIII: hyperlipidemic rats were then treated orally with (S; 1.5 mg/rat/ /day) for 4 weeks. GIV: hyperlipidemic rats were then treated orally with (LC; 20 mg/rat/day) for 4 weeks. GV: hyperlipidemic rats were then treated with (S) and (LC) at the same time. Samples were taken and processed for light and electron microscopic studies.
Results: Application of (S) induced multiple changes of muscles as loss of transverse striations, splitting of myofibrils, and presence of central nuclei. Treatment with (LC) causes improvement of these changes.
Conclusion: Application of (LC) improved the degenerative changes of muscle obtained by administration of (S).