Tissue concentrations of coenzyme Q10 in the rat following its oral and intraperitoneal administration.

Daily oral or ip administration of coenzyme Q10 to rats for time periods of 2 to 10 weeks leads to its accumulation in liver, concentrating in the soluble fraction of the liver cells. No uptake of coenzyme Q10 can be detected in the heart or kidney. Intraperitoneal administration also results in the accumulation of coenzyme Q10 in the spleen. It is concluded that the normal endogenous levels of quinone in the rat heart and kidney cannot be supplemented over the long term by administration of exogenous quinone.