Melatonin improves cardiac and mitochondrial function during doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity: A possible role for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha and sirtuin activity?

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a central element in the development of doxorubicin (DXR)-induced cardiotoxicity. In this context, melatonin is known to influence mitochondrial homeostasis and function. This study aimed to investigate the effects of melatonin on cardiac function, tumor growth, mitochondrial fission and fusion, PGC1-α and sirtuin activity in an acute model of DXR-induced cardiotoxicity. During the in vitro study, H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts were pre-treated with melatonin (10 μM, 24 h) followed by DXR exposure (3 μM, 24 h). Following treatment, cellular ATP levels and mitochondrial morphology were assessed. In the in vivo study, female Sprague Dawley rats (16 weeks old), were inoculated with a LA7 rat mammary tumor cell line and tumors were measure daily. Animals were injected with DXR (3 × 4 mg/kg) and/or received melatonin (6 mg/kg) for 14 days in their drinking water. Rat hearts were used to conduct isolated heart perfusions to assess cardiac function and thereafter, heart tissue was used for immunoblot analysis. DXR treatment increased cell death and mitochondrial fission which were reduced with melatonin treatment. Cardiac output increased in rats treated with DXR + melatonin compared to DXR-treated rats. Tumor volumes was significantly reduced in DXR + melatonin-treated rats on Day 8 in comparison to DXR-treated rats. Furthermore, DXR + melatonin treatment increased cellular ATP levels, PGC1-α and SIRT1 expression which was attenuated by DXR treatment. These results indicate that melatonin treatment confers a dual cardio-protective and oncostatic effect by improving mitochondrial function and cardiac function whilst simultaneously retarding tumor growth during DXR-induced cardiotoxicity.