Elucidation of ameliorative effect of Co-enzyme Q10 in streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathic perturbation by modulation of electrophysiological, biochemical and behavioral markers

AimHyperglycemia-caused imbalances in metabolic pathways as well as microvascular changes in neuron lead to development of diabetic neuropathy. It is the most common long-term complications of diabetes, affecting 50% of the patient worldwide and characterized by clinical symptoms like elevated levels of allodynia and hyperalgesia, reduced nerve conduction velocity, neuronal hypoxia and nerve fibre degeneration. The aim of present investigation was to determine the therapeutic potential of Coenzyme Q10 and its combination with Pyridoxine in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic neuropathic pain.Materials and methodsIntraperitoneal administration of STZ to male Sprague Dawley rats (150–200 g) resulted in significant increase in blood glucose level, cholesterol as well as triglyceride concentration, aldose reductase, glycated Hb, neural calcium level along with oxidative–nitrosative stress and it significantly reduced the level of membrane bound inorganic phosphate enzyme, i.e. Na+K+ATPase. These biochemical alterations resulted in a decrease in mechano-tactile allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal hyperalgesia, motor nerve conduction velocity along with sensory nerve conduction velocity and thus the development of diabetic neuropathy.ResultsChronic treatment with Coenzyme Q10 (50 and 100 mg/kg) for 4 weeks significantly and dose dependant attenuated (P < 0.05) this elevated levels of blood glucose, cholesterol as well as triglyceride, aldose reductase, glycated Hb, neural calcium along with endogenous enzymes to reduce oxido-nitrosative stress. Thus, it significantly restored (P < 0.05) the level of nociceptive threshold, motor nerve conduction velocity along with sensory nerve conduction velocity and thus improved STZ-induced diabetic neuropathic pain. Major finding of the investigation was the combination of Coenzyme Q10 (100 mg/kg) along with Pyridoxine (100 mg/kg) showed more significant attenuation of the neuropathic pain than Coenzyme Q10 (100 mg/kg) or Pyridoxine (100 mg/kg) alone treated groups.ConclusionThe combination of Coenzyme Q10 and Pyridoxine not only attenuated the hyperglycemia but also showed the significant decrease in neuropathic pain via inhibition of elevated levels of hyperlipidemia, glycated Hb, oxidative–nitrosative stress as well as elevation in the membrane bound inorganic phosphate enzyme that leads to diminution in the allodynia and hyperalgesia.