title: Toxicology update: the cardiotoxicity of the oxidative stress metabolites of catecholamines (aminochromes).
abstract: This toxicology update reviews the oxidative stress metabolites of catecholamines, postulated to be the biochemical initiators of cardiotoxicity. A brief overview of catecholamine metabolism is provided with several noteworthy historical observations relating to the autoxidation and rearrangement of epinephrine. The basic chemical and physical properties of adrenochrome and adrenolutin are discussed. The autoxidative, enzymatic and cellular basis for the transformation of catecholamines to oxidative metabolites is reviewed. Mechanisms seeking to account for the observed cardiotoxic changes in isolated heart perfusion studies and in vivo models are described.
authors.affiliation: NRC Research Associate, Pharmacology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5400, USA.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Behonick
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Nealley
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Baskin
mesh_terms: D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D004837:Epinephrine