Hayder M Al-Kuraishy and Reem Ghanim Hussein
Background: The greatest danger of doxorubicin-induced toxicity is cardiotoxicity hence; administration of doxorubicin should be dose-limited. There are several biomarkers used to detect the cardiotoxicity which are cardiac troponin and caspase-3.
Aim: The aim of present study was assess caspase-3 serum levels in acute doxorubicin induced-cardiotoxicity in rats regarding the protective role of metformin.
Materials and methods: 18 Male Sprague Dawley rat were used in this experimental study. The rats were divided into three groups these were: Group ???: Six rats as control group received normal saline 5 ml/kg/day intra-peritoneal for ten days. Group ??????: Six rats treated with normal saline 5 ml/kg/day intra-peritoneal for ten days and doxorubicin 20 mg/kg was given as a single dose intra-peritoneal at 8th day. Group ?????????: Six rats treated with metformin 50 mg/kg/day orally via gavage for 10 days and doxorubicin 20 mg/kg was given as a single dose intra-peritoneal at 8th day. cTn-I serum level and caspase-3 serum level were assessed by specific ELISA kit method.
Results: Doxorubicin increase caspase-3 and cardiac Troponin I levels significantly p<0.01 compared to the control. Pre-treatment with metformin led to significant reduction in cTnI and caspase-3 serum levels compare to doxorubicin group p<0.05.
Conclusion: In doxorubicin induced-cardiotoxicity, caspase-3 is increased and regarded as a surrogate biomarker and pre-treatment with metformin produced significant cardio-protection in rats through reduction of caspase-3 serum levels.
