Transition metals iron and copper release participates in the myocardial injury under ischemic conditions and hence protection might be achieved by chelators. In this study we tested copper chelator D-penicillamine both in vitro and in vivo.
In vitro on H9c2 cells, the protection against the catecholamine-induced viability loss was observed in a dose-dependent manner. In animals, both intravenous D-penicillamine doses of 11 (low) and 44 mg/kg (high) decreased the mortality caused by s.c. isoprenaline (100 mg/kg) from 36% to 14% and 22%, respectively.
In conclusion, D-penicillamine seem to act as protective compound against catecholamine-induced cardiotoxicity.