Effect of Adriamycin on the Activities of Superoxide Dismutase, Glutathione Peroxidase and Catalase in Tissues of Mice

The increment of lipid peroxide in the hearts of mice treated with adriamycin (ADR) was examined in relation to the decrease in the activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) and catalase. The natural activities of these enzymes in mouse heart are lower than those in the liver. The biggest decrease in enzyme activity observed in the heart after ADR administration was that of GSHpx. Therefore, the increment of lipid peroxide was attributable to the decrease in the activities of these enzymes, especially GSHpx. Subsequently, the effects of antioxidants on the decreases in activities of SOD, GSHpx and catalase in the hearts of mice treated with ADR were examined. However, the decrease in the activities of the enzymes were not accompanied with any increment of lipid peroxide. This result suggests that active oxygen radicals produced by ADR through the agent's redox cycling have no effect on the activities of these enzymes. Therefore, it appears that the decrease in the activities of these enzymes induced by ADR in the mouse results from inhibition of enzyme protein biosynthesis.