From: Doug Skrecky (oberon@vcn.bc.ca)
Date: Mon May 24 1999 - 19:26:24 MDT
Authors
Matthews RT. Yang L. Browne S. Baik M. Beal MF.
Institution
Neurochemistry Laboratory, Neurology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital
and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Title
Coenzyme Q10 administration increases brain mitochondrial concentrations and
exerts neuroprotective effects.
Source
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of
America. 95(15):8892-7, 1998 Jul 21.
Abstract
Coenzyme Q10 is an essential cofactor of the electron transport chain as well
as a potent free radical scavenger in lipid and mitochondrial membranes.
Feeding with coenzyme Q10 increased cerebral cortex concentrations in 12- and
24-month-old rats. In 12-month-old rats administration of coenzyme Q10
resulted in significant increases in cerebral cortex mitochondrial
concentrations of coenzyme Q10. Oral administration of coenzyme Q10 markedly
attenuated striatal lesions produced by systemic administration of
3-nitropropionic acid and significantly increased life span in a transgenic
mouse model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These results show
that oral administration of coenzyme Q10 increases both brain and brain
mitochondrial concentrations. They provide further evidence that coenzyme Q10
can exert neuroprotective effects that
might be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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