Protective effect of endogenous coenzyme Q on both lipid peroxidation and respiratory chain inactivation induced by an adriamycin-iron complex.

Mitochondria from beef heart have been partially depleted of coenzyme Q by pentane extraction. It has been found that lipid peroxidation induced by an adriamycin-iron complex proceeds at a higher rate in this preparation than in coenzyme Q reincorporated mitochondria. Moreover in coenzyme Q depleted mitochondria both NADH and succinate oxidase activities result more affected. These observations indicate that endogenous coenzyme Q can effectively protect mitochondria from membrane lipid oxidative damage induced by adriamycin-iron and can reduce the inactivation of NADH and succinate oxidases.