Elevation of serum lipid peroxide level associated with doxorubicin toxicity and its amelioration by [dl]-alpha-tocopheryl acetate or coenzyme Q10 in mouse (doxorubicin, toxicity, lipid peroxide, tocopherol, coenzyme Q10).

Elevations of serum lipid peroxide levels were demonstrated in mice after an equitoxic dose of doxorubicin. When BDF1 mice were injected with doxorubicin (20 mg/kg body weight, IP), lipid peroxide levels in sera were elevated 1 day after the injection and the levels declined on subsequent days. 5-Fluorouracil (400 mg/kg body weight, IP) never changed the peroxide levels in serum. Furthermore, it was found that the co-administration of [dl]-alpha-tocopheryl acetate or coenzyme Q10 IM strongly inhibited the doxorubicin-induced elevation of lipid peroxides in serum. The effectiveness of [dl]-alpha-tocopheryl acetate or coenzyme Q10 in reducing the lethality of doxorubicin in mice was also confirmed. These results indicate that the measurement of serum 2-thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances provided a useful measurement of lipid peroxide levels, which may be involved in some way with doxorubicin toxicity, and that the administration of antioxidants provide protection against some of the side effects of doxorubicin.