title: The effect of simvastatin on coenzyme Q and antioxidant/oxidant balance in diabetic-hypercholesterolaemic rats.
abstract: The effect of simvastatin administered for 10 days on coenzyme Q and antioxidant/oxidant balance in a rat model of diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolaemia was studied. In the diabetic-hypercholesterolaemic rats the signs of oxidative stress-decreased alpha-tocopherol/cholesterol in the plasma (p < 0.01) and alpha-tocopherol in liver (p < 0.001) together with increased lipid peroxidation in the liver (TBARS, p < 0.05) were found. Increased coenzyme Q9 concentrations in the plasma (p < 0.05) and liver (p < 0.01), coenzyme Q10 in the myocardium (p < 0.05) and in the liver (p < 0.01) may indicate adaptation to oxidative stress. Administration of simvastatin (10 mg/kg) to the diabetic-hypercholesterolaemic rats counteracted increased myocardial (coenzyme Q10, p < 0.05) and liver (total coenzyme Q9, p < 0.05) coenzyme Q concentrations but did not improve alpha-tocopherol depletion and increased formation of TBARS in the liver. Even though simvastatin treatment did not induce coenzyme Q deficiency in plasma, heart and liver of the diabetic-hypercholesterolaemic rats as compared to the control levels, it was not able to prevent completely the changes in antioxidant/oxidant balance induced by diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia. The results highlight the importance of studying the effect of statins on the coenzyme Q levels in the animal models of pathological conditions known to change the initial antioxidant defence system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University, Odbojárov 10, 832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia. kuzelova@fpharm.uniba.sk
authors.forename: Magdaléna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuzelová
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adameová
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sumbalová
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paulíková
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harcárová
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Svec
authors.forename: Jarmila
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kucharská
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D016877:Oxidants; D014451:Ubiquinone; D019821:Simvastatin