EFFECT OF CARNITINE AND COENZYME-Q(10) ON THE CALCIUM-UPTAKE IN HEARTSARCOPLASMIC-RETICULUM OF RATS TREATED WITH ANTHRACYCLINES

The effect of the association of carnitine and coenzyme Q10 on doxorub icin cardiotoxicity has been investigated. The two drugs administered to rats for two weeks have lower protective activity when they are adm inistered separately rather than given in association (carnitine 200 m g/kg/day, coenzyme Q10 10 mg/kg/day) for the acute toxic effect of dox orubicin on perfused functioning isolated hearts. The sarcoplasmic ret iculum damage measured by calcium-uptake is lower in rat hearts treate d with the combined drugs. Deferoxamine and phosphocreatine, two compo unds which protect from peroxidative damage due to iron and copper ion s, show very strong protection from acute doxorubicin toxicity in isol ated perfused hearts. Carnitine and coenzyme Q10 do not protect sarcop lasmic reticulum from iron ions damage, suggesting that their mechanis m of protection is not directly related to peroxidation due to metal i on-dependent cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin.