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The amino acids, glycine and glutamine have been implicated in myocardial protection against damage which occurs when the ischaemic heart is reperfused. A major focus of this thesis was to investigate whether such protection could be enhanced by simultaneously delivering these amino acids as the dipeptide, L-glycyl-L-glutamine (gly-gln). In addition homocysteine has been implicated in augmented oxidative stress, and recognized as a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, but is structurally related to the cardioprotective agent cysteine. A second aim, therefore, was to investigate the little known effects of homocysteine on heart cells. |
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