EPR Study of Generation of Short-Lived Reactive Oxygen Species in Rat Heart Homogenate

The protective effects of the mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant plastomitin (Skulachev ions (SkQs)) were studied upon hyperproduction of short-lived reactive oxygen species (ROS) in animals. The integral production rate of highly toxic oxygen radicals was assessed in oxidative stress induced in rats by doxorubicin injection, and the protective effect of plastomitin was evaluated. Experiments were carried out with rat heart tissue homogenates by EPR spectroscopy. Doxorubicin injection in rats was shown to significantly (by 26%) increase the production rate of short-lived ROS in the homogenate. The effect was suppressed to a great extent when plastomitin was administered together with doxorubicin.