Cardiotoxic and Dyslipidemic Effects of Doxorubicin and Betulinic Acid Amide.

Changes in the blood lipid spectrum and structural reorganization of the rat myocardium in response to injection of a single sublethal dose of doxorubicin (7 mg/kg) alone and in combination with course administration of betulonic acid amide (100 mg/kg/day for 14 days) were studied. Betulinic acid amide in the specified dose exhibited less pronounced cardiotoxic (necrobiotic impairment of cardiomyocytes) and dyslipidemic (increase of cholesterol and triglyceride levels) effects in comparison with doxorubicin. Combined treatment with betulinic acid amide and doxorubicin led to more pronounced remodeling of the myocardium, which was shown by a significant increase of the connective tissue/cardiomyocyte volume ratio detected by day 14 of the experiment.