The Role of Coenzyme Q10 in Statin Treated Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

• Main Author: Pasha, Rand
• Other Authors: Moon, Thomas
• Language: en
• Published: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa 2014
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10393/31427; http://dx.doi.org/10.20381/ruor-3864

Atorvastatin (ATV) is a member of the statin family of pharmaceuticals sold as Lipitor™ by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Statins inhibit HMG-Coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoAR), thus inhibiting the biosynthesis of cholesterol and other isoprenoid compounds including Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). This study evaluated the role of CoQ10 in preventing ATV-induced myotoxicity using the zebrafish Danio rerio as a model organism. ATV reduced spontaneous swimming, response to tactile stimuli, whole body enzyme activities (citrate synthase, cytochrome oxidase and lactate dehydrogenase) as well as increased pericardial sac edema in larvae. Transcript abundance of muscle atrophy markers (atrogen-1, murf) and the mitochondrial biogenesis marker (pgc-1α) were also altered. Additionally, acute toxicity of adult zebrafish resulted in no change in locomotor behaviour; however tissue enzyme activities and transcript abundance were altered. These findings demonstrate the protective effect of CoQ10 against larval ATV-meditated reduction in responses to tactile stimuli and enzyme activities suggesting CoQ10 does play a role in ATV-mediated toxicity.