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Protective Efficacy of Coenzyme Q10 Against DDVP-Induced Cognitive Impairments and Neurodegeneration in Rats

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Abstract

The present study was carried out to elucidate the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) against cognitive impairments induced by dichlorvos (DDVP). We have previously shown organophosphate, DDVP-induced impairments in neurobehavioral indices viz. rota rod, passive avoidance, and water maze tests. In addition to this, we have also reported that chronic DDVP exposure leads to decreased mitochondrial electron transfer activities of cytochrome oxidase along with altered mitochondrial complexes I–III activity. Administration of CoQ10 (4.5 mg/kg, i.p. for 12 weeks prior to DDVP administration daily) to DDVP-treated rats improved cognitive performance in passive avoidance task and Morris water maze test. Furthermore, CoQ10 treatment also reduced oxidative stress (as evident by reduced malondialdehyde, decreased ROS and increased Mn-SOD activity) in DDVP-treated rats’ hippocampus region, along with enhanced activity of complexes I–III and complex IV. Electron microscope studies of rat hippocampus mitochondria revealed that CoQ10 administration leads to near normal physiology of mitochondria with well-defined cristae compared with DDVP-treated animals where enlarged mitochondria with distorted cristae are observed. CoQ10 administration also attenuated neuronal damage in hippocampus as evident from histopathological studies. These results demonstrate the beneficial effects of CoQ10 against organophosphate-induced cognitive impairments and hippocampal neuronal degeneration.

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Acknowledgment

This study has been supported by Indian Council of Medical Research, India, in the form of SRF to Binukumar BK.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India

    B. K. Binukumar, Nidhi Gupta, Aditya Sunkaria, Ramesh Kandimalla, W. Y. Wani, D. R. Sharma & Kiran Dip Gill

  2. Department of Histopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India

    Amanjit Bal

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  1. B. K. Binukumar
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  2. Nidhi Gupta
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  3. Aditya Sunkaria
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Correspondence to Kiran Dip Gill.

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Binukumar, B.K., Gupta, N., Sunkaria, A. et al. Protective Efficacy of Coenzyme Q10 Against DDVP-Induced Cognitive Impairments and Neurodegeneration in Rats. Neurotox Res 21, 345–357 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12640-011-9289-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12640-011-9289-0

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