Coenzyme Q10 plus Multivitamin Treatment Prevents Cisplatin Ototoxicity in Rats

PLoS One. 2016 Sep 15;11(9):e0162106. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162106. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Cisplatin (Cpt) is known to induce a high level of oxidative stress, resulting in an increase of reactive oxygen species damaging the inner ear and causing hearing loss at high frequencies. Studies on animal models show that antioxidants may lower Cpt-induced ototoxicity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ototoxic effects of two different protocols of Cpt administration in a Sprague-Dawley rat model, and to test in the same model the synergic protective effects of a solution of coenzyme Q10 terclatrate and Acuval 400®, a multivitamin supplement containing antioxidant agents and minerals (Acu-Qter). The Cpt was administered intraperitoneally in a single dose (14 mg/kg) or in three daily doses (4.6 mg/kg/day) to rats orally treated or untreated with Acu-Qter for 5 days. The auditory function was assessed by measuring auditory brainstem responses from 2 to 32 kHz at day 0 and 5 days after treatment. Similar hearing threshold and body weight alterations were observed in both Cpt administration protocols, but mortality reduced to zero when Cpt was administered in three daily doses. The Acu-Qter treatment was able to prevent and completely neutralize ototoxicity in rats treated with three daily Cpt doses, supporting the synergic protective effects of coenzyme Q terclatrate and Acuval 400® against Cpt-induced oxidative stress. The administration protocol involving three Cpt doses is more similar to common human chemotherapy protocols, therefore it appears more useful for long-term preclinical studies on ototoxicity prevention.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / toxicity*
  • Cisplatin / toxicity*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Ear, Inner / drug effects*
  • Hearing Loss / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Ubiquinone / administration & dosage
  • Ubiquinone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamins / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Vitamins
  • Ubiquinone
  • coenzyme Q10
  • Cisplatin

Grants and funding

The work was supported by the Scharper Healthcare Srl. (Milan, Italy). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.