Protective role of coenzyme Q 10 against high cholesterol dietinduced histological and biochemical changes in cerebellar cortex of adult albino rats

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia was known to cause cardiovascular and brain damaging effects; however cholesterol is less known for affecting cerebellar and microvasculature pathology. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally occurring potent antioxidant. The aim of this research is to study histological and biochemical alterations occuring in the structure of cerebellum after feeding high cholesterol diet and the possible protective role of CoQ10. Forty male adult albino rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group I, control received a low-cholesterol diet. Group II received normal laboratory diet and CoQ10, Group III fed on 5% cholesterol diet. Group IV fed on 5% cholesterol diet and CoQ10 orally. After 4 months the body weight of all rats was measured and lipid profile was assessed. Rats' cerebelli were removed, cortices were dissected and divided into three parts for histological, tau and GFAB immunohistochemical study and for assessment of endogenous oxidative and antioxidant markers. In cerebellar cortex from rats fed on high cholesterol diet, Purkinje cell number showed significant decrease compared to control group. They had many multi-lysosomes, cytoplasmic vacuoles, dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticulum and most of their nuclei were variable in shape, muddy or appoptotic, while few were euchromatic. In group IV, cerebellar cortex nearly regained the normal architecture but few granular cells still had pyknotic nuclei and few purkinje cells still had positive Tau immune reaction. High cholesterol diet has a deleterious effect on histological and biochemical structure of the cerebellum. Coenzyme-Q10 ameliorates these effects.