A possible protective role of coenzyme Q10 on antioxidant defense system in the heart of rats treated with cadmium

Summary: The effect of cadmium (Cd), coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Cd+CoQ10 on the activities of superoxide dismutases (total SOD), manganese containing superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD) and copper-zinc containing superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-Stransferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) and concentrations of ascorbic acid (AsA) and vitamin E (Vit E) in the heart of male Wistar albino rats were studied in comparison to the controls and cadmium treated animals. Cd induces a significant increase of total SOD, Cu, Zn SOD and GSH-Px activities, as well as AsA and Vit E concentrations, but leads to a significant decrease of CAT and GR activities. CoQ10 induces a significant increase of total SOD, Mn SOD, Cu, Zn SOD and GSH-Px activities, as well as AsA and Vit E concentrations. In the same group of animals the activities of CAT, GST and GR were significantly decreased. By concomitant treatment of rats with Cd+CoQ10 the activities of total SOD, Mn SOD and GSH-Px, as well as concentrations of AsA and Vit E were markedly increased. In the same group of animals the activities of Cu, Zn SOD, CAT and GR were significantly decreased. In respect to the Cd treated rats in Cd+CoQ10 partialy are reversed changes (Cu,Zn SOD) of antioxidant defense system in the heart.