In vitro evaluation of acute effects of mitoxantrone (Novantrone) in rat and guinea pig atria.

Since guinea pig and rat atria have been used as models to study acute anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, experiments were carried out in these preparations to evaluate possible acute cardiac effects mediated by mitoxantrone (MTX). After a latency period of approximately 90 min, MTX (10(-5)-10(-4) M) promoted a concentration-related and time-dependent decrease of spontaneous rate in guinea pig atria. A similar but less intense effect after a longer latency interval was observed in rat atria.

Comparison of acute effects of mitoxantrone and doxorubicin in guinea-pig atria.

1. The acute effects of doxorubicin (DOX) and mitoxantrone (MTX) on basal rate and on positive chronotropic activity induced by 1-noradrenaline (1-NA) were investigated in isolated guinea-pig atria. 2.