Protective role in vivo of Coenzyme Q10 during reperfusion of ischemic limbs

Abstract The authors prepared an experimental animal model of ischemia and reperfusion of the limbs to evaluate in vivo the reactive oxygen species involvement and protective role of coenzyme Q 10 in reperfusion injury. A group of male rabbits (untreated group) underwent clamping of abdominal aorta for 3 hr and then declamping; at intervals blood sampling was drawn for coenzyme Q 10 , vitamin E, lactic acid and creatinkinase assays. Another group of male rabbits (treated group) underwent the same ischemia period but before declamping coenzyme Q 10 was administered intra aorta. In untreated group, coenzyme Q 10 and vitamin E plasma levels decreased while lactic acid and creatinkinase plasma levels increased during reperfusion. These data demonstrate that, after only 3 hr of ischemia, the extremities show a biochemical reperfusion injury, and this involves an increased consumption of antioxidants such as coenzyme Q 10 and vitamin E. In the treated group, the increase of creatinkinase plasma levels during reperfusion was not significant, while the decrease in vitamin E was more marked.