title: Effect of glutathione and N-acetylcysteine on in vitro and in vivo cardiac toxicity of doxorubicin.
abstract: The effects of two sulfhydryl compounds, glutathione (GSH) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), on the cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin (DXR) were tested on in vitro and in vivo models. DXR was administered to rats as 4 weekly i.v. doses of 3 mg/kg. GSH (1.5 mmoles/kg), given i.v. 10 min before and 1 hr after DXR, was found to prevent the development of the delayed cardiotoxic effects of DXR, as assessed by electrocardiographic and mechanical parameters, as well as by histological examination of left ventricular preparations. In contrast, equimolar oral doses of NAC (1 hr before and 2 hrs after DXR) were found to be ineffective. Both GSH and NAC prevented the negative inotropic effect produced by DXR on isolated rat atria. A good correlation exists between the cardioprotective effects of the two agents and their ability to enhance the non-protein sulfhydryl group content of the myocardium. Differences observed in vivo between GSH and NAC might be accounted for by pharmacokinetic factors.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galimberti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piccinini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rozza
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Favalli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poggi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zunino
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000187:drug effects; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D004317:Doxorubicin; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine