IMPROVEMENT OF CARDIAC-FUNCTION AND MYOCARDIAL ENERGY-METABOLISM OF RATS WITH CHRONIC HEART-FAILURE BY LONG-TERM COENZYME Q(10) TREATMENT

The effects of long-term treatment with coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) on my ocardial energy metabolism of rats with chronic heart failure (CHF) we re examined. Left coronary artery ligation resulted in decreases in bl ood pressure, left ventricular developed pressure, the first derivativ e of left ventricular developed pressure, cardiac output and stroke vo lume indices and caused an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure 12 weeks after the operation. Significant decreases in adenos ine-5'-triphosphate, creatine phosphate, creatine and inorganic phosph ate contents and the mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate of the viab le left and right ventricles were detected in the CHF rat. Oral admini stration of 5 mg/kg/day CoQ(10) for 12 weeks attenuated the changes in the first derivative of left ventricular developed pressure, cardiac output and stroke volume indices of the CHF rat but did not significan tly improve the survival of CHF animals. The developed infarct area wa s approximately 40% of the whole left ventricle, irrespective of treat ment with or without CoQ(10). There was no reversal in the decreased m yocardial CoQ(9) and CoQ(10) contents of the CHF rat after treatment w ith exogenous CoQ(10). In the right ventricle of CoQ(10)-treated anima ls, a significant recovery of creatine, inorganic phosphate and mitoch ondrial oxygen consumption rate, and a small restoration of creatine p hosphate but not of adenosine-5'-triphosphate, were observed, which su ggests an appreciable recovery of energy-producing ability in the righ t ventricle. In contrast, a significant restoration of tissue creatine and inorganic phosphate, but not of other variables, was detected in the left ventricle. The results suggest that CoQ(10) treatment contrib utes to restoration of myocardial energy-producing ability and thus en hances the whole heart function of the CHF animal to a limited degree. It also appears to encourage recovery of the right ventricular functi on to some extent.