# Differential effects of apelin-13 on lipid peroxidation and DNA oxidation in doxorubicin-treated rats: A preliminary study

## TL;DR

This study explores how apelin-13 affects oxidative stress in rats treated with doxorubicin, finding it may reduce DNA damage but not lipid damage.

## Contribution

The study reveals apelin-13's selective effect on DNA oxidation but not lipid peroxidation in doxorubicin-treated rats.

## Key findings

- Apelin-13 did not reduce malondialdehyde levels, indicating no effect on lipid peroxidation.
- Apelin-13 reversed the decrease in 8-OHdG levels caused by doxorubicin, suggesting protection against DNA oxidation.

## Abstract

Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity is closely associated with oxidative stress (OS), and apelin-13 has been proposed as a potential cardioprotective peptide. However, its effects on specific OS markers remain poorly understood. This preliminary study aimed to evaluate the impact of apelin-13 on OS markers in rats chronically treated with doxorubicin (DOX). Male rats received DOX with or without apelin-13 (40 µg/kg body weight/day). The levels of 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured as indicators of oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation, respectively. The DOX treatment resulted in increased MDA levels, which were unaffected by apelin-13. Conversely, 8-OHdG levels decreased with DOX alone but returned to baseline levels in the presence of DOX and apelin-13. In conclusion, while apelin-13 did not mitigate DOX-induced lipid oxidative damage, it may selectively influence nuclear OS markers. This suggests a complex and context-dependent role of apelin-13 in modulating OS associated with DOX treatment.