Coenzyme Q10 administration increases brain mitochondrial concentrations and exerts neuroprotective effects

Abstract

Coenzyme Q10 is an essential cofactor of the electron transport chain as well as a potent free radical scavenger in lipid and mitochondrial membranes. Feeding with coenzyme Q10 increased cerebral cortex concentrations in 12- and 24-month-old rats. In 12-month-old rats administration of coenzyme Q10 resulted in significant increases in cerebral cortex mitochondrial concentrations of coenzyme Q10. Oral administration of coenzyme Q10 markedly attenuated striatal lesions produced by systemic administration of 3-nitropropionic acid and significantly increased life span in a transgenic mouse model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These results show that oral administration of coenzyme Q10 increases both brain and brain mitochondrial concentrations. They provide further evidence that coenzyme Q10 can exert neuroprotective effects that might be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Figure 1

Cerebral cortex concentrations of oxidized coenzyme Q₉ and coenzyme Q₁₀ in 12-month-old rats treated for 2 months with 200 mg/kg of coenzyme Q₁₀. ∗, P < 0.05.

Figure 2

Cerebral cortex concentrations of reduced coenzyme Q₉ H₂ and coenzyme Q₁₀ H₂ in 12-month-old rats treated with 200 mg/kg of coenzyme Q₁₀. ∗∗, P < 0.01.

Figure 3

Cerebral cortex concentrations of total coenzyme Q₉ (oxidized and reduced) and total coenzyme Q₁₀ in 12-month-old rats treated with 200 mg/kg of coenzyme Q₁₀. ∗∗, P < 0.01.

Figure 4

Cerebral cortex mitochondrial total coenzyme Q₉ and total coenzyme Q₁₀ concentrations in 12-month-old rats treated for 2 months with 200 mg/kg of coenzyme Q₁₀.

Figure 5

Effects of coenzyme Q₁₀ supplementation on striatal lesion volumes produced by 3-NP. ∗∗∗, P < 0.001.

Figure 6

Effects of coenzyme Q₁₀ supplementation versus a normal diet on reduced coenzyme Q₉ and reduced coenzyme Q₁₀ levels after administration of 3-NP. ∗, P < 0.05; ∗∗, P < 0.01.

Figure 7

Effects of coenzyme Q₁₀ supplementation on survival in a transgenic animal model of ALS. The graph shows the cumulative probability for survival. Survival was significantly increased in mice receiving coenzyme Q₁₀. P < 0.05.