Neurotoxic properties of new antitumor agent anthrafuran

Introduction . Currently, the study of the neurotoxic properties of new drugs is an indispensable step towards the promotion of the medicine to clinical practice. The original antitumor drug anthrafuran (LCTA-2034), obtained in Gause Institute of New Antibiotics, has demonstrated high activity against transplantable mice tumors. Previous studies have shown that the drug in high doses causes brain tissues damage.
Objective: a pilot investigation of anthrafuran neurotoxicity.
Materials and methods . The study was carried out on 52 female outbred rats. The suspension of drug in water for injection was administrated per os at a single maximum tolerated dose of 170 mg/kg. The testing was performed on “open field” setting 1, 4 and 8 h and repeated on day 1 and 30 post treatment.
Results . It was found that the administration of the drug reduced both motor (covered distance, average speed) and research (the number of rearings, contacts with the “burrow”) activity as compared to control. These effects were manifested to the greatest extent 4 h post treatment. A day later, when rats re-visit “open field”, the parameters under study increased in this group, while in the control group these indicators decreased.
Conclusion . Anthrafuran exhibits a reversible inhibitory effect on the motor and research activity of rats.