Polyamines reduce heart injury caused by doxorubicin

Isolated rat heart was perfused with 18 microM doxorubicin in the recirculating buffer. This treatment resulted in progressive contractile impairment. Aortic flow and minute work (i.e the product of cardiac output and peak systolic pressure) were reduced up to 20 and 29% of basal values, respectively. These parameters were partially restored in hearts perfused with 400 microM spermine, a naturally occurring polyamine, and 18 microM doxorubicin in the recirculating buffer. The results suggest the need for an investigation of the possible antagonistic role of polyamines against anthracycline cardiotoxicity.