TY - JOUR
T1 - Concurrent administration of coenzyme Q10 and α-tocopherol improves learning in aged mice
AU - Mcdonald, Shelley R.
AU - Sohal, Rajindar S.
AU - Forster, Michael J.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by grants RO1 AG17526 and P01 AG022550 from the National Institutes of Health-National Institute on Aging.
PY - 2005/3/15
Y1 - 2005/3/15
N2 - The main purpose of this study was to determine whether supplemental intake of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) (ubiquinone-10) or α-tocopherol, either alone or together, could improve brain function of aged mice, as reflected in their cognitive or psychomotor performance. Separate groups of aged mice (24 months) were administered either CoQ (123 mg/kg/day), or α-tocopherol acetate (200 mg/kg/day), or both, or the vehicle (soybean oil) via gavage for a period of 14 weeks. Three weeks following the initiation of these treatments, mice were given a battery of age-sensitive behavioral tests for the assessment of learning, recent memory, and psychomotor function. In a test that required the mice to rapidly identify and remember the correct arm of a T-maze, and to respond preemptively in order to avoid an electric shock, the intake of α-tocopherol plus CoQ resulted in more rapid learning compared to the control group. Learning was not significantly improved in the mice receiving CoQ or α-tocopherol alone. None of the treatments resulted in a significant improvement of psychomotor performance in the old mice. In a separate study, treatment with higher doses of CoQ alone (250 or 500 mg/kg/day) for 14 weeks failed to produce effects comparable to those of the combination of α-tocopherol and CoQ. The apparent interaction of CoQ and α-tocopherol treatments is consistent with the previous suggestion, based on biochemical studies, that coenzyme Q and α-tocopherol act in concert. Overall, the findings suggest that concurrent supplementation of α-tocopherol with CoQ is more likely to be effective as a potential treatment for age-related learning deficits than supplementation with CoQ or α-tocopherol alone.
AB - The main purpose of this study was to determine whether supplemental intake of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) (ubiquinone-10) or α-tocopherol, either alone or together, could improve brain function of aged mice, as reflected in their cognitive or psychomotor performance. Separate groups of aged mice (24 months) were administered either CoQ (123 mg/kg/day), or α-tocopherol acetate (200 mg/kg/day), or both, or the vehicle (soybean oil) via gavage for a period of 14 weeks. Three weeks following the initiation of these treatments, mice were given a battery of age-sensitive behavioral tests for the assessment of learning, recent memory, and psychomotor function. In a test that required the mice to rapidly identify and remember the correct arm of a T-maze, and to respond preemptively in order to avoid an electric shock, the intake of α-tocopherol plus CoQ resulted in more rapid learning compared to the control group. Learning was not significantly improved in the mice receiving CoQ or α-tocopherol alone. None of the treatments resulted in a significant improvement of psychomotor performance in the old mice. In a separate study, treatment with higher doses of CoQ alone (250 or 500 mg/kg/day) for 14 weeks failed to produce effects comparable to those of the combination of α-tocopherol and CoQ. The apparent interaction of CoQ and α-tocopherol treatments is consistent with the previous suggestion, based on biochemical studies, that coenzyme Q and α-tocopherol act in concert. Overall, the findings suggest that concurrent supplementation of α-tocopherol with CoQ is more likely to be effective as a potential treatment for age-related learning deficits than supplementation with CoQ or α-tocopherol alone.
KW - Antioxidant
KW - Antioxidant combination
KW - C57BL/6 mice
KW - Cognitive decline
KW - Free radicals
KW - Psychmotor function
KW - Recent memory
KW - Ubiquinone-10
KW - Vitamin E
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=13844298846&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2004.11.014
DO - 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2004.11.014
M3 - Article
C2 - 15721983
AN - SCOPUS:13844298846
SN - 0891-5849
VL - 38
SP - 729
EP - 736
JO - Free Radical Biology and Medicine
JF - Free Radical Biology and Medicine
IS - 6
ER -