Protective effects of agmatine on doxorubicin-induced chronic cardiotoxicity in rat.

The detrimental cardio-toxic effect of doxorubicin, an effective chemotherapeutic agent, limited its clinical use. It has been claimed that doxorubicin cardio-toxicity occurs through calcium ions (Ca) overload and reactive oxygen species production. Agmatine, an endogenous imidazoline receptor agonist, induce uptake of cytosolic Ca and cause an increase in activity of calcium pumps, including Ca-ATPase.