ABSTRACT
The discipline of cardiovascular toxicology is concerned with the adverse effects of xenobiotics on the heart and circulatory system of living organisms. By its very nature and by being ubiquitous in the body, it is not surprising that the introduction of chemicals into the body may involve some interaction with the heart and vascular system. To understand better the potentially damaging effects of xenobiotics on the cardiovascular system, this volume focuses on four major areas: (1) methods to assess cardiovascular function and toxicity, (2) general principles of myocardial cell injury, (3) toxicity of chemical agents to the heart, and (4) vascular toxicity of chemical agents. The intent of this monograph is to provide a mechanistic understanding of the cell injury process induced in the heart and vascular system by chemical agents and other injurious stimuli such as ischemia and hypoxia. These introductory notes briefly summarize the interest of many investigators on the biologic roles of hypertrophy and apoptosis in the physiology and pathophysiology of cardiac function. Molecular and cellular mechanisms are stressed to stimulate future studies of cardiac myocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis and their relationship to toxic cardiovascular agents. The other chapters in this new edition provide additional insights into other biologic mechanisms involved in the cardiovascular toxicity of chemicals and other injurious stimuli.
