Calcium-dependent changes of the myocardial contractile function at chronic adriamycin treatment

The contractile function of hearts and atria isolated from rats treated with adriamycin (ADM, total cumulative dose 16-20 mg/kg for 8-10 weeks) was moderately lower as compared to control preparations. However, the former exhibited a relatively higher positive inotropic response to an elevation of Ca++ concentration in the perfusate of isolated hearts or paired pulse stimulation of atria so that maximally attainable values were similar in both groups. On the contrary, the depression of ADM-treated atrial contractile amplitude became even more prominent at moderate increase in stimulation rate and was associated with the apparent incomplete relaxation. Chemically skinned fibers from ADM-treated hearts began to develop force at lower Ca++ concentration and exhibited higher Ca++-sensitivity in pCA range 5.8-5.4. Results suggest that long-term ADM-treatment may be associated with a functional deficiency of Ca++-transporting mechanisms in myocardial cells which may contribute to the depression of the cardiac contractile function.