Short-term and long-term models of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy in rats: A comparison of functional and histopathological changes.

Objectives: Doxorubicin (DXR), an anthracyclic antineoplastic agent, is one of the most commonly drug utilized to induce dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and heart failure (HF), but the well optimized protocol for cardiomyopathy induction leading to development of cardiac systolic dysfunction is unclear. This study aims to critically compare short-term and long-term DXR injection protocols for the induction of DCM in rats.

Methods: Animals were allocated into 3 experimental groups: a ST (short-term DXR injection) group, in which animals received 6 intraperitoneal (i.