FAILURE OF THE ANTIOXIDANT VITAMIN-E TO PROTECT AGAINST ADRIAMYCIN-INDUCED CARDIOTOXICITY IN THE RABBIT

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (6) , 2033-2038
Abstract
Vitamin E has been proposed to protect against adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity. Contractile decline and ultramicroscopic alterations of the heart of rabbits chronically treated with adriamycin up to a cumulative dose of 400 mg/sq m were studied. High doses of vitamin E did not protect against the adriamycin-induced development of severe contractile decline as evaluated by means of measurement of the interval-force relationship curve. Light microscopic and EM analysis did not show any signs of protection against adriamycin-induced morphological alterations. Biochemical and hematological alterations caused by the antineoplastic agent were similar in both adriamycin-treated animal groups. Coadministration of vitamine E did result in an increased life span. Vitamin E apparently does not protect against the development of cardiomyopathy and contractile decline after chronic exposure to adriamycin.