Influence of doxorubicin on lipid peroxidation and heart histology in rats

Anthracycline antibiotic doxorubicin, which has proven cardiovascular toxicity, is often used in the treatment of cancer. The research project was carried out in 21 sexually mature Wistar male rats divided into three groups: control group, high-dose experimental group, in which rats were once injected intraperitoneally with doxorubicin hydrochloride at a dose of 10 mg/kg and low-dose experimental group, in which animals twice received intraperitoneal 2.5 mg/kg doses of doxorubicinhydrochloride at 10-day interval.An increase of malondialdehyde was revealed in the membranes of red blood cells in the high-dose experimental group, while in the low-dose experimental group a reduction in the levels of malondialdehyde and plasma hydroperoxides as well as a decreasing of catalase activity was observed. Intake of doxorubicin also causes venous hyperemia in wide areas of myocardiumalong with increasing of cardiomyocytic cross striation.