Effects of treatment with coenzyme Q10 on exercised rat aorta

In this study, the effect of long-term supplementation of coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) on the responses of swim-trained rat aorta was investigated. Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: untrained, trained, untrained+CoQ(10), and trained+CoQ(10) group. In the trained groups rats swam for 60 min/day, five days/week for six weeks. The CoQ(10) supplements were administered by intraperitoneal injection at a daily dose of 10 mg.kg(-1) of body weight five days/week for six weeks. Swimming of the rats was performed in a container containing tap water. Rats were sacrificed and thoracic aortas were removed for ex vivo analysis after the last swimming session. The aortas were cut into rings 2.5 mm in length. Concentration-response curves for phenylephrine (PHE, 10(-9)-3x10(-4) M) and potassium chloride (KCl, 5-100 mM) were isometrically recorded. The sensitivity and maximal responses to PHE and KCl of aortic rings obtained from trained rats were lower than those of untrained rats. CoQ(10) supplementation decreased the responses to both vasoconstrictors in untrained and especially in trained groups. Although neither CoQ(10) nor training did affect malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) levels, creatine kinase (CK) activity decreased and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased only with exercise training. Glutathione (GSH) levels increased in CoQ(10) supplemented-untrained rats. In conclusion, our results suggest that CoQ(10) supplementation may have beneficial effects during exercise.