Monitoring Mitochondrial Morphology and Respiration in Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy.

Doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy constitutes dose-dependent cardiac toxicity, culminating in fatal heart failure progression. Cardiac toxicity limits effective and subsequent use of DOX in chemotherapy regimens in pediatric, adult, and recurrent cancer patients. DOX-induced profound alterations in mitochondrial morphology, dynamics, and defects in mitochondrial energy metabolism in the heart comprise key stressors in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Hence, the discovery of novel molecular targets and therapeutics to mitigate DOX-induced mitochondrial dysfunctions are imperative. Herein, we provided two laboratory protocols to monitor DOX-induced alterations in mitochondrial morphology and respiration in isolated primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes are extensively used to monitor signaling mechanisms regulating cardiomyopathy in vitro. Therefore, these protocols will help researchers study the effects of novel pharmacological and genetic manipulations against DOX-induced alterations in mitochondrial morphology and energy metabolism in cardiomyocytes.