Antioxidant defense system in skeletal muscle of rats treated with cadmium a possible protective role of coenzyme Q10

The effect of cadmium, coenzyme Q(10) and cadmium+coenzyme Q10 on the activities of superoxide dismutases (total, manganese containing and copper-zinc containing), catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase and concentrations of ascorbic acid, vitamin E, coenzyme Q, total protein contents and cadmium concentration in skeletal muscle of male Wistar albino rats were studied in comparison to the control animals. Increased activities of total and copper-zinc containing superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase, and decreased activity of manganese containing superoxide dismutase in cadmium treated rats were observed. In coenzyme Q10 treated animals the activities of total and manganese containing superoxide dismutase were decreased, while glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities were increased. In rats treated with cadmium+coenryme Q10 the activity of manganese containing superoxide dismutase was decreased, whereas the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase were increased, Concentrations of ascorbic acid and vitamin E were increased in all examined groups of animals, while coenzyme Q concentration was increased in coenzyme Q10 and cadmium+coenzyme Q10 treated rats. Cadmium decreased, while coenzyme Q10 increased the total protein contents. Accumulation of cadmium in skeletal muscle of rats treated with cadmium and cadmium+coenzyme Q10 was also observed.