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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

A Doxorubicin-Induced Murine Model of Dilated Cardiomyopathy In Vivo
05:14

A Doxorubicin-Induced Murine Model of Dilated Cardiomyopathy In Vivo

Published on: May 16, 2020

Protective effect of carvedilol on daunorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats

Wawaimuli Arozal1, Kenichi Watanabe, Punniyakoti T Veeraveedu

  • 1Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima Akiha-ku, Niigata City 956-8603, Japan.

Toxicology
|May 11, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Carvedilol effectively prevents heart and kidney damage caused by the chemotherapy drug daunorubicin (DNR). This study shows carvedilol reverses DNR

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Cardiology
  • Nephrology

Background:

  • Daunorubicin (DNR) is a key chemotherapy agent for acute myeloid leukemia.
  • DNR's clinical utility is restricted by significant cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.
  • Effective strategies to mitigate DNR-induced organ damage are urgently needed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the protective effects of carvedilol against daunorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.
  • To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of carvedilol's renoprotective and cardioprotective actions.

Main Methods:

  • Rats received a cumulative dose of 9 mg/kg daunorubicin (i.v.).
  • Carvedilol was administered orally daily for 6 weeks.
  • Cardio-renal function, oxidative stress markers, apoptosis, and histopathology were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Daunorubicin induced significant cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, evidenced by impaired function and elevated biomarkers.
  • Carvedilol treatment reversed these toxicities, improving hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters.
  • Carvedilol reduced oxidative stress, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and NADPH oxidase expression, and apoptosis, while increasing nephrin expression.

Conclusions:

  • Carvedilol demonstrates significant cardioprotective and renoprotective effects against daunorubicin-induced toxicity.
  • The protective mechanisms involve mitigating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in cardiac and renal tissues.
  • Carvedilol represents a promising therapeutic strategy to enhance the safety profile of daunorubicin chemotherapy.

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