Visualization of doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress in isolated
cardiac myocytes.
Sarvazyan, Narine.
Department of Physiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
APStracts 3:0162H, 1996.
The paper presents high resolution fluorescence images obtained using
laser scanning confocal microscopy. Isolated cells from adult rat
hearts were preloaded with 2'7'-dichlorofluorescin (an oxidant
-sensitive fluorescent probe) and exposed to doxorubicin, an important
anticancer drug with prominent cardiotoxicity. Fluorescence images
were collected from live cells simultaneously on two channels: 515
-530 nm was used to monitor an increase in dichlorofluorescein, the
oxidized product of dichlorofluorescin, whereas emission >610 nm
was used to visualize the intracellular distribution of doxorubicin.
The images reveal intracellular oxidation in close proximity to the
mitochondria following only 20 minutes exposure of isolated
cardiomyocytes to 40 - 160 mM doxorubicin. The data confirm an
oxidative mechanism of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity and demonstrate the
capability of a new technique to monitor intracellular oxidation in
living cardiomyocytes.
Received 30 January 1996; accepted in final form 5 April 1996.
APS Manuscript Number H89-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 1 May 96