THE CYTOPROTECTIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF AMIFOSTINE AGAINST DOXORUBICINE-INDUCEDCARDIOTOXICITY

Purpose: To demonstrate experimentally that amifostine prevents doxorubicine induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Material and Method: Totally 45 rats were separated into three groups. Each group consisted of 15 rats. Doxorubicine (9 mg/kg, IV) only was given to the rats in the first group, doxorubicine (9 mg/kg, IV)+amifostine (300 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) to those in the second group, doxorubicine (9 mg/kg, IV)+ amifostine (200 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) to those in the third group. The blood samples of the rats were collected and cardiac enzyme levels (CK, SGOT, LDH) were assayed at the beginning, 48th and 72nd hours. Five days after doxorubicine and amifostine was given, the histopathological assesment were made on autopsy of the rat myocard. Results: In the groups of doxorubicine only and doxorubicine + amifostine (200 mg/kg), cardiac enzyme levels were found statistically higher than the rats given doxororubicine + amifostine (300 mg/kg) at 48th and 72nd hours. At the 5th day, meaningful histopathological changes were determined on the autopsy of myocard in the groups of doxorubicine only and doxorubicine + amifostine (200 mg/kg). Only limited histopathological changes were detected in a small number of rats (3/13) that were given doxorubicine + amifostine (300 mg/kg). Conclusion: Amifostine at the dose of 300 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, significantly reduces doxorubicine induced cardiotoxicity.

Keywords: amifostin, doxorubicine, cardiotoxicity