The mechanisms of myocardial toxicity vary depending on the toxicant involved:
- Oxidative Stress: Many toxicants, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) generators, induce oxidative stress, leading to lipid peroxidation, protein modification, and DNA damage in cardiac cells. - Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Toxicants can impair mitochondrial function, disrupting ATP production, which is essential for heart muscle contraction. - Disruption of Ion Channels: Certain toxins affect ion channels, altering cardiac conduction and potentially causing arrhythmias. - Apoptosis and Necrosis: Some substances induce cell death pathways in cardiomyocytes, leading to loss of functional heart tissue.
