EFFECT OF DOXORUBICIN AND RUBIDAZONE ON RESPIRATORY-FUNCTION AND CA2+ TRANSPORT IN RAT-HEART MITOCHONDRIA

The effect of 2 cardiotoxic anthracycline antibiotics on rat heart mitochondria was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Doxorubicin (D) caused marked inhibition of electron transfer reactions and of Ca2+ uptake into mitochondria when Ca2+ translocation was energized by electron transfer activities. In vitro rubidazone (R) was a potent uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. It inhibited Ca2+ translocation energized by both electron transfer activities and ATP splitting. In vivo R also caused marked uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, but had only a weak and transient effect on Ca2+ uptake when energy was provided by electron transfer activities. © 1979.