Effects of coenzyme Q10 on rat liver cells under conditions of metabolic stress.

Under conditions of metabolic stress induced in Wistar rats by 5-day starvation with subsequent refeeding, supplementation with coenzyme Q10 in doses of 10 and 100 μg/kg of body weight resulted in significant increase in liver weight after the experiment. Percent ratio of liver cell populations was changed, which was detected by flow cytometry. In addition, specific effects of low dose of coenzyme Q10 (10 mg/kg body weight) on hepatocytes was observed, which manifested in increased number of mitoses and percentage of S-phase cells, enhanced expression of D1 and Rb-protein expression, and reduced percent of apoptotic hepatocytes. Adaptive effects of coenzyme Q10 are associated with enhanced expression of Hsp25, Hsp70, and Hsp90 in hepatocytes during metabolic stress.