Protective effects of alpha-tocopherol and coenzyme Q10 on warm ischemic damages of the rat kidney.

Studies were done on the protective effects of alpha-tocopherol and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on warm ischemic damage to the rat kidney. Administration of alpha-tocopherol (10 mg/kg body wt/day) for 7 days or a single i.p. injection of CoQ10 (6 mg/kg body wt) increased the survival rate from 0 to 46.7% of the rats subjected to warm ischemia for 120 min. The administration of alpha-tocopherol and CoQ10 increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the renal tissue from 0.53 +/- 0.18 to 0.92 +/- 0.29, and from 0.64 +/- 0.26 to 1.00 +/- 0.54 mumol/g wet weight, respectively, 4-hr reperfusion after 120 min of warm ischemia. Serum creatinine levels of the surviving rats after 120 min of warm ischemia was 9.98 +/- 0.19 mg/100 ml in the control group and 5.84 +/- 0.95 and 7.27 +/- 1.62 mg/100 ml, respectively, in alpha-tocopherol and CoQ10 administered group, when determined 2 days after the operation. These results indicate that alpha-tocopherol and CoQ10 have a protective effect on warm ischemic damage to the rat kidney, demonstrated by an increase in ATP resynthesis after reflow following warm ischemia and by the maintenance of a lower serum creatinine level. This effect was accompanied by an increase in the survival rate of ischemic rats.