Pharmacokinetics and cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin and its secondary alcohol metabolite in rats

Abstract

Our data showed that DOX level was higher than DOXol level in heart tissue. DOX had a high level in intracellular H9C2 cell and was the primary cytotoxic agent. DOXol had a significantly low level in heart tissue and less cytotoxicity than that of DOX in H9C2. DOXol in heart could not diffuse from plasma but only form in the heart. DOXol could not enter cell as easy as DOX. The less cardiotoxicity of DOXol might be caused by the less intracellular concentration.