Prevention of cardiac damage induced by formyl-leurosine, a potent cytostatic agent, by radio-detoxified endotoxin (Tolerin) in dogs.

Radio-detoxified endotoxin (Tolerin), produced by 60Co-gamma irradiation of Escherichia coli 089 endotoxin, can protect dogs against the acute cardiotoxic side-effects of formyl-leurosine, a semi-synthetic Vinca derivative with promising antineoplastic potency. Formyl-leurosine induces a rapid decrease in arterial blood pressure and diminishes the contractile force of the myocardium in the anaesthetized dog. These responses indicate a direct pharmacologic relaxant effect of the drug on the heart and vasculature smooth muscle. The early cardiovascular depression is of short duration and is unaffected by Tolerin. Tolerin can prevent, however, the secondary, more dangerous phase of circulatory depression that is associated with the severe cardiotoxic manifestations of the drug, as demonstrated by hemodynamic and morphologic (light and electronmicroscopic) patterns.