Protective effect of exogenous coenzyme Q in rats subjected to partial hepatic ischemia and reperfusion

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Genova, Maria Luisa | Bonacorsi, Elisa | D’Aurelio, Marilena | Formiggini, Gabriella | Nardo, Bruno | Cuccomarino, Salvatore | Turi, Paola | Pich, Milena Merlo | Lenaz, Giorgio^; | Bovina, Carla

Affiliations: Department of Biochemistry “G. Moruzzi”, University of Bologna, via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy | Department of Surgery “A. Valsalva”, University of Bologna, via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy

Note: [] Corresponding author: Tel.: +39 051 351229; Fax: +39 051 351217; E‐mail: lenaz@biocfarm.unibo.it.

Abstract: In a surgical model of liver ischemia lipid peroxidation occurs, as shown by increase of lipid peroxidation end products, endogenous CoQ_{9} is oxidized and mitochondrial respiration is lowered; however, pre‐treatment of the rats by i.p. injection of CoQ_{10} for 14 days normalizes the above parameters, presumably by way of the observed high extent of reduction of the incorporated quinone; moreover, liver homogenates of the CoQ_{10}‐treated rats are more resistant than those of non‐treated rats to oxidative stress induced by an azido free radical initiator. This preliminary study suggests that CoQ_{10} pre‐treatment can be of beneficial effect against oxidative damage during liver surgery transplantation.

Journal: Biofactors, vol. 9, no. 2-4, pp. 345-349, 1999