The effect of co-enzyme Q10 and N-acetylcysteine on biochemical parameters and oxidative stress in rats subjected to alloxan induced diabetic nephropathy

Introduction: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) has been recognized as the one of the microvascular chronic complications resulting from diabetes. Though, efforts have taken to develop effective therapies for attenuation of DN, involvement of the multiple pathogenetic mechanisms and underlying oxidative stress (OS) makes it difficult to choose optimum therapeutic agent. Objective: The study is aimed at assessing the possible therapeutic effect of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) individually or in combination on experimental DN in rats. Materials and Methods: The study was performed on adult male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 50; 200–250 g). Rats were made diabetic by alloxan (130 mg/kg; i.p.). The non-diabetic rats were randomly assigned to control, CoQ10 (10 mg/kg, p.o.), NAC (300 mg/kg, p.o.), and CoQ10+ NAC group. Whereas diabetic rats were grouped as DN control, DN+ CoQ10, DN+ NAC and DN+ CoQ10 +NAC groups. CoQ10 and/or NAC were administered to the diabetic rats for 8 weeks after confirmation of the DN. Renal functions and tissue antioxidant parameters were estimated. Results: Renal function tests and urinary proteins were significantly (p Conclusion: The study provides valuable information supporting that treatment with combination of CoQ10 and NAC might prevent or delay the renal damage associated with DN and improves the antioxidant. Keywords: Diabetic nephropathy, Coenzyme Q10, N-acetylcysteine, Oxidative stress, Alloxan.