SUPPRESSION OF THE HYDRAZINE-INDUCED FORMATION OF MEGAMITOCHONDRIA INTHE RAT-LIVER BY COENZYME Q(10)

The effects of coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) on the hydrazine-induced chang es in the structure of mitochondria and those in antioxidant systems o f the liver were investigated using rats as experimental animals. Anim als were placed on a powdered diet containing 1.0% hydrazine for 7-8 d ays in the presence or absence of the combined treatment with CoQ(10). Results obtained were as follows: (a) treatment of animals with CoQ(1 0) prevented the hydrazine-induced formation of megamitochondria in th e liver; (b) changes observed in the liver of the hydrazine-treated an imals in comparison to the control were increases in the contents of a lpha-tocopherol and CoQ analogs, increases in the levels of lipid pero xidation, decreases in the level of reduced glutathione with increases in that of oxidized glutathione, and increases in the ratio of unsatu rated to saturated fatty acids in phospholipid domains of mitochondria l membranes; and (c) administration of CoQ(10) to hydrazine-treated an imals suppressed enhanced lipid peroxidation and improved lowered aden osine diphosphate/O ratios of mitochondria. The present data suggest t hat CoQ(10) suppresses the hydrazine-induced formation of megamitochon dria by scavenging free radicals generated from hydrazine and its meta bolites.