The effects of cadmium and coenzyme Q10 on the activity of antioxidant enzymes in kidneys of rats

Abstract

We determined the activities of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutases - total (tot. SOD), copper zinc containing (CuZn SOD) and manganese containing (Mn SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH- Px), glutathione--S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) in male, two months old vVistar albino rats. The animals were treated with cadmium (17 mg/day/kg b.m. in drinking water), Coenzyme Q10 (C0Q10 , I6 mg/kg, i.m., every fifth day) and Cd+CoQ10 (17 mg/day/kg b.m. Cd in drin."l(ing water + 16 mg/kg, CoQ10 , i.m., every fifth day ) during 30 days. The activities of tot. SOD and CuZn SOD were significantly increased in Cd treated animals, while the activity of manganese containing superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD) was significantly decreased. In animals treated with CoQ10 Mn SOD was significantly decreas ct. The activity of CAT was significantly decreased in animals treated with CoQ10 and Cd+CoQ1c, whereas GSH-Px activity was significantly decreased in rats treated with Cd, CoQ1 0 and Cd+CoQ10 • GST activity was significantly decreased in rats exposed to Cd, CoQ10 and Cd+CoQ10 . No significant changes of GR activity in any of investigated experimental groups were observed. Our results show that CoQ10 exibit protective effects on the activities of antioxidant enzymes in kidneys of rats chronically exposed to cadmium.