Neurotoxicity of adrimycin in rats: a low-dose effect

A neurotoxic effect of Adriamycin in rats has been noted following a single iv dose level of 5 mg/kg of body weight (35 mg/m2 of body surface area). The changes which were studied in the dorsal root ganglia were qualitatively similar to those previously reported at a higher dose level. The early changes involved neuronal nuclei and included focal regions of clearing and altered staining of chromatin. Necrosis of many affected neurons followed, but the evolution of this lesion was slower than that seen in previous studies using the higher dose of the drug.