The Beneficial Effect of Coenzyme Q10 and Lipoic Acid on Obstructive Bladder Dysfunction in the Rabbit

Purpose: Recent evidence indicates that ischemia and reperfusion are major etiological factors in the bladder dysfunction that occurs after partial bladder outlet obstruction. Coenzyme Q10 and α-lipoic acid are found naturally in mitochondria and act as potent antioxidants. We investigated the beneficial effects of coenzyme Q10 plus α-lipoic acid in a rabbit model of bladder outlet obstruction.Materials and Methods: Twenty male rabbits were divided into 5 groups. Group 1 served as control and group 2 received three weeks of coenzyme Q10 plus α-lipoic acid supplementation. Rabbits in group 3 underwent surgical partial bladder outlet obstruction for duration of four weeks and groups 4 and 5 were obstructed for seven weeks. In group 5, coenzyme Q10 plus α-lipoic acid supplementation was given following 4 weeks obstruction and continued till the end of the seven weeks. The contractile responses to various agents were determined. The protein nitration and carbonylation levels were studied by immunoblotting. Ne...