Effect of coenzyme Q10 on structural alterations in the renal membrane of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract To test the hypothesis that structural abnormalities exist in the kidney membrane of spontaneously hypertensive rats, we examined the effect of long-term administration of coenzyme Q 10 on membrane lipid alterations in the kidney of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). As compared with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats, renal membrane phospholipids, especially phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, decreased and renal phospholipase A 2 activity was enhanced with age in untreated SHRSP. Treatment with coenzyme Q 10 attenuated the elevation of blood pressure, the membranous phospholipid degradation, and the enhanced phospholipase A 2 activity. These results suggest that one factor contributing to the progress of hypertension is a structural membrane abnormality that alters the physical and functional properties of the cell membrane, and coenzyme Q 10 might protect the renal membrane from damage due to hypertension in SHRSP.