title: Combined effects of coenzyme Q(10) and Vitamin E in cadmium induced alterations of antioxidant defense system in the rat heart.
abstract: Our study investigated the possible protective effects of coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) and Vitamin E (Vit E) alone or in combination against cadmium (Cd) induced alterations of antioxidant defense system in the rat heart. Male Wistar rats were injected with a single dose of CdCl(2) (0.4mg Cd/kg BW i.p.), CoQ(10) (20mg CoQ(10)/kg BW i.m.) and Vit E (20IU Vit E/kg BW i.m.), alone or in combination. Acute intoxication of rats with Cd were followed by significantly increased activity of antioxidant defense enzymes (CuZn SOD, GSH-Px, GST and GR), while the activity of Mn SOD was decreased in the heart. The treatment with Cd significantly decreased Vit C and Vit E concentrations. Treatment with CoQ(10) and Vit E reversed Cd-induced alterations of antioxidant defense system. The obtained results support the assumption that CoQ(10) and Vit E functions cooperatively with endogenous antioxidants and diminished toxic effects of Cd in rat heart.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, P.O. Box 60, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia and Montenegro.
authors.forename: Branka I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Ognjanović
authors.forename: Snežana D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Marković
authors.forename: Sladjan Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Pavlović
authors.forename: Radoslav V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Zikić
authors.forename: Andraš Š
authors.initials: AŠ
authors.lastname: Stajn
authors.forename: Zorica S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Saičić