Oral administration of coenzyme Q₁₀ reduces MPTP-induced loss of dopaminergic nerve terminals in the striatum in mice

Neurol Sci. 2012 Feb;33(1):195-9. doi: 10.1007/s10072-011-0627-z. Epub 2011 May 20.

Abstract

The neuroprotective effect of coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) has been reported in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated mice. In this study, we investigated whether oral administration of CoQ(10) could protect the striatal dopaminergic (DAergic) nerve terminals against MPTP-induced toxicity in C57BL/6N mice using immunoisolation technique for DAergic synaptosomes. CoQ(10) significantly attenuated decrease in dopamine transporter as well as in synaptophysin and actin protein levels in DAergic synaptosomes from MPTP-treated mice. The effect of CoQ(10) was also observed in crude synaptosomes fraction, but not in homogenate. Our results indicate that the nerve terminals are a site for the action of CoQ(10) against the MPTP-induced DAergic neurodegeneration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Corpus Striatum / drug effects*
  • Corpus Striatum / pathology
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / drug effects*
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / pathology
  • MPTP Poisoning / drug therapy*
  • MPTP Poisoning / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Ubiquinone / pharmacology*
  • Ubiquinone / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Ubiquinone
  • Ubiquinone Q1