The effect of Q10 and vitamin E separately and in combination on oxidative stress in the cerebellum of male mice exposed to heat stress

Abstract

Heat stress (HS) results in multi-organ dysfunction, including brain dysfunction. Coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E have antioxidant effects and play a protective role in heat stress. In this study, the effect of administration of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E in the cerebellum of male mice exposed to heat stress was assessed. Methods: Fifty male C57BL/6 mice were allocated to five groups (n = 10/group): (I) control, (II) heat stress + normal saline (NS), (III) HS + Q10, (IV) HS + Vit E, and (V) HS + Q10 + Vit E groups. Mice in the control groups were not exposed to HS. Mice in II-V groups were subjected to HS once a day for 2 weeks. Treatments were administrated orally by gavage for 2 weeks (500mg/kg CoQ10 and/or 250mg/kg Vit E). The heat-shock protein-70 (HSP-70) were evaluated by western blotting and oxidative stress markers of cerebellum including malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), super oxid dismutase (SOD) as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were evaluated by spectroscopy method. Results: The results of the study revealed that TAC and Gpx in the HS group compared to the NS group decreased significantly. However, MDA in the HS group was significantlty increased compared to the NS group. Also, the level of TAC, Gpx, and MDA in the treatment groups had a significant difference compared to the NS and HS groups. Additionally, HSP70 was increased in the CoQ10 and the combined CoQ10 and Vit E treatment groups (p<.05 and p<.001 respectively).