Protective effects of MitoQ against plateau hypoxia injury on rats / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim To study the protective effects of Mi-toQ against an altitude of 8 000 m plateau hypoxia in-jury on brain tissues of rats. Methods We studied the protective effects of MitoQ against hypoxia by the experiment of closed normobarie hypoxia to choose the best dose firstly. Then, an altitude of 8 000 m plateau hypoxia environment was stimulated using a large scale hypoharic and mionectic chamber, the histopathologi-cal slices were observed, and the level of oxidative stress and mitochondrial function as well as measurement apoptosis related proteins were determined to study the anti-hypobaric hypoxia effects of MitoQ on rats. Results MitoQ reduced the intercellular space, the degree of vacuolization of brain and oxidative stress level, prevented calcium overload, raised mitochondrial membrane potential and increased the activity of mi-tochondrial respiratory chain complexes II, IV. Furthermore, MitoQ decreased the expression level of Cyt C, caspase-3 and Bax, playing a protective role under the condition of hypobaric hypoxia on rats. Conclusions MitoQ prevents the damage and maintains the function of mitochondria of brain to protect rats under the condition of simulated altitude of 8 000 m plateau hypoxia environment.