In scientific terms, AICAR Ribonuccleotide, or AICAR, is an analog of AMP. Studies have indicated it is able to stimulate AMP-dependent proteins kinase activity in animal test subjects. Because of this, it is being researched on animal test subjects in scientific studies to determine whether it can help treat and protect against cardiac ischemic injury. This is a condition that can lead to myocardial infarction. What causes this health problem is a lack of oxygen and flow of blood to the myocardium. It wasn’t until the 1980s, when the peptide was first researched on animal test subjects as a way to assist the heart with getting blood while having surgery. Research also shows that it could potentially treat other illnesses like diabetes, since it can boost the metabolic activity of tissues by changing the muscles’ physical composition in animal test subject studies.
Medical Use of AICAR Ribonuccleotide
AICAR Ribonuccleotide has shown it regulates various intracellular systems in animal test subjects, such as cellular glucose uptake, biogenesis of mitochondria, glucose transport 4 and B-Oxidation of fatty acids. When researched with animal test subjects, it has also shown to promote the storage of nutrients on a cellular level. In return, this enhances energy production.
AICAR has been used in animal test trials, which had results that indicate the research peptide's ability to regulate the functions of the heart. Scientifically put, the peptide is able to go into cardiac cells to inhibit enzyme production (i.e. adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase). With the ability to block the enzymes, an increase in glucose (on a cellular level) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases A and B occurs in the skeletal muscle’s tissues. It also stops programmed cellular death (or apoptosis) from taking place.
When this peptide was studied on test subjects, the increase in the production of glucose and oxygen allowed the subject’s metabolism to reach a homeostasis level more efficiently.
Potential Benefits of AICAR
Due to the amount of testing that has been done, scientists have come up with theoretical benefits that can be linked to peptide. As mentioned above, one of the benefits happens to be AICAR’s ability to assist with cardiac ischemic injuries. Ischemic conditions can exist in many different areas of the animals test subject's body and in different forms, such as an embolism or thrombosis. In the case of cardiac ischemic injuries, it is directly related to the myocardium. Some cardiac ischemic episodes are asymptomatic, but can be linked to insufficient blood flow to the brain. This is called angina pectoris.
Research studies have shown that heart attacks too are caused by restriction of blood flow to the heart. Studies have also shown that AICAR Ribonuccleotide can help to treat animal test subjects heart muscle after a heart attack has occurred due to ischemic injury.
Side Effects Associated with AICAR
Through the tests that were performed on animal test subjects using AICAR, it has been proven that there are a couple of side effects associated with it. Since peptides deal mainly with the heart, it’s not surprising that the side effects lie here as well. Some of the side effects on animal test subjects include heart valve development defects and abnormal heart tissue growth.
Disclaimer: AICAR Ribonuccleotide should not be used or consumed by humans. The research conducted with this peptide was for experimentation and research purposes only. It should not be purchased for any other use. If purchased, AICAR should only be used under experimental circumstances that are under strict laboratory guidelines. Safety equipment should be worn and used when conducting experiments with AICAR. In the event that exposure occurs, immediate cleansing should take place to avoid harm to the individual.
It’s likely that studies for AIRCAR will continue over the next couple of decades. Doing so may one day bring about more ideas for treating and preventing ischemic injuries in animal test subjects.
