3-Deoxyglucosone (3-DG) is a highly reactive carbonyl intermediate in glycation reaction (also known as Maillard reaction) and plays an important role in
diabetic complications. We investigated the potential involvement of 3-DG in
doxorubicin (DXR)-induced
cardiotoxicity. Male Crl:CD(SD) rats received
intravenous injections of DXR at 2mg/kg, once weekly, for 6 weeks, with/without daily intraperitoneal treatment with 3-DG scavenging agents, i.e.,
aminoguanidine (AG, 25mg/kg/day) and
pyridoxamine (PM, 60mg/kg/day). Cardiac levels of 3-DG,
thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (
TBARS),
fructosamine, and
pentosidine, plasma
glucose levels and cardiac
troponin I (cTnI), echocardiography, and histopathology were assessed at 4 and 6 weeks
after treatment. Cardiac 3-DG levels were significantly increased by DXR treatment at 4 and 6 weeks. Cardiac
fructosamine levels and plasma
glucose were not altered by DXR; however,
TBARS levels in the heart were significantly increased at 4 and 6 weeks, suggesting that the enhanced generation of 3-DG is not attributed to any abnormal glycemic status, but may be related to oxidative stress by DXR. An
advanced glycation end-product,
pentosidine, was significantly increased by DXR treatment at 6 weeks. Intervention by AG and PM ameliorated the DXR-induced echocardiographic abnormalities, increased cTnI in plasma, and histopathological lesion as well as normalizing the elevation of 3-DG and
pentosidine levels. These results suggest that 3-DG is generated by DXR and involved, at least in part, in the pathogenesis of DXR-
cardiotoxicity through glycation reaction.