A protective action of coenzyme Q10 on chlorpromazine-induced cell damage in the cultured rat myocardial cells.

The interactions between coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) and chlorpromazine (CPZ) were studied after CPZ-induced injury of cultured myocardial cells of new-born Wistar rats. Administration of 7.5 X 10(-6) M of CPZ caused decreases in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) contents and beating rates by 77.4% and 54.2%, respectively. These changes were dependent on the dosage of CPZ. Histologically, many lamellated granules appeared in the cytoplasm and seemed to originate from mitochondria. The decreased density of the mitochondrial matrix and an irregular arrangement of cristae were also observed. Coincubation of the cultures with CPZ and CoQ led to a dose-dependent increase in ATP contents and beating rates. The appearance of increased number of granules in the cytoplasm was suppressed. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, interfered with the effects of CoQ on the CPZ-induced myocardial cell injury. These findings suggest that CoQ may protect myocardial cells from CPZ-induced injury, and that prostaglandins may play an important role in the action of CoQ.