ANTHRACYCLINE-INDUCED TENSION IN PERMEABILIZED CARDIAC FIBERS - EVIDENCE FOR THE ACTIVATION OF THE CALCIUM RELEASE CHANNEL OF SARCOPLASMIC-RETICULUM

Anthracyclines, such as doxorubicin (DOX), are important cancer chemotherapeutic agents that are cardiotoxic. The mechanism for the cardiotoxicity is not well-defined. Recent studies have concluded that anthracyclines release calcium (Ca2+) from membrane fractions containing sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). To determine whether anthracyclines release Ca2+in situ from cardiac SR, the effects of DOX on Ca2+-activated contractions were analyzed in membrane-permeabilized and membrane-intact fibers from rabbit heart. DOX (10-120 μM) induced tension development in calcium-preloaded permeabilized fibers. DOX-induced tension required submicromolar Ca2+, and was blocked by ruthenium red (20 μM) and Triton X-100 treatment, characteristics shared by caffeine-induced tension referable to SR Ca2+-release. DOX (50 μM) did not alter the maximum Ca2+-activated tension or shift the Ca2+ concentration-tension relationship of permeabilized fibers, indicating no effects of DOX on the myofilaments. DOX (44-350 μM) depressed post-rest isometric contractility of membrane-intact fibers but did not inhibit steady-state contractility (at 1 Hz; 2.5 Mm Ca2+), similar to effects of caffeine and submicromolar ryanodine. The specific effects of DOX on post-rest contractility of membrane-intact fibers are consistent with DOX-induced Ca2+ release from the SR of membrane-permeabilized fibers. Thus, DOX alters SR Ca2+ release in situ which may contribute to the inotropic and lusitropic dysfunction observed with anthracyclines. © 1993 Academic Press Limited.