Improvement of cardiac function and myocardial energy metabolism of rats with chronic heart failure by long-term coenzyme Q10 treatment.

The effects of long-term treatment with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on myocardial energy metabolism of rats with chronic heart failure (CHF) were examined. Left coronary artery ligation resulted in decreases in blood pressure, left ventricular developed pressure, the first derivative of left ventricular developed pressure, cardiac output and stroke volume indices and caused an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure 12 weeks after the operation. Significant decreases in adenosine-5'-triphosphate, creatine phosphate, creatine and inorganic phosphate contents and the mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate of the viable left and right ventricles were detected in the CHF rat. Oral administration of 5 mg/kg/day CoQ10 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 significantly improve the survival of CHF animals. The developed infarct area was approximately 40% of the whole left ventricle, irrespective of treatment with or without CoQ10. There was no reversal in the decreased myocardial CoQ9 and CoQ10 contents of the CHF rat after treatment with exogenous CoQ10. In the right ventricle of CoQ10-treated animals, a significant recovery of creatine, inorganic phosphate and mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate, and a small restoration of creatine phosphate but not of adenosine-5'-triphosphate, were observed, which suggests an appreciable recovery of energy-producing ability in the right ventricle. In contrast, a significant restoration of tissue creatine and inorganic phosphate, but not of other variables, was detected in the left ventricle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)