Relationship between the effect on calcium turnover and early cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin and 4'-epi-doxorubicin in guinea pig heart muscle.

Doxorubicin and 4'-epi-doxorubicin, two anthracycline derivatives with different cardiotoxic effects in experimental models, were found to decrease myocardial contractility in isolated guinea pig atria by significantly modifying calcium turnover. This effect seems to be mainly localized on the fast exchanging membrane-bound calcium, while these drugs do not significantly influence the intracellular stores of calcium. 4'-epi-doxorubicin, which induces a less negative inotropic effect than doxorubicin, produces a smaller inhibition of calcium turnover. This supports the hypothesis that the inhibition of calcium turnover and particularly of the fast exchanging calcium compartment is a general mechanism involved in the early anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity.