Qualitative Electron Microscopic Analysis of Cultured Chick Embryonic Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Cells: The Cellular Effect of Coenzyme Q10 After Exposure to Triton X-100

Abstract

The numerous protective effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) evoked the question of whether it might be able to elicit protection to cell membranes after being challenged by the membrane disrupter Triton X-100. Cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue from chick embryos was cultured and exposed to increasing concentrations of CoQ10 and Triton X-100. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study cell morphology. Results suggested the ability of CoQ10 to offer protection to cells challenged by Triton X-100. The authors suggest that CoQ10 may offer protection to muscle cells, by enhancing membrane repair via patch formation by an unknown mechanism that possibly involves Ca²⁺-dependent ion channel activation.

Keywords:

• cell membranes
• coenzyme Q10
• skeletal and cardiac muscle cells

Notes

We thank the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF) for funding Etheresia Pretorius (Indigenous Knowledge Systems (FA2004033100004)). The authors also thank Eureke Smith for technical assistance during the study, as well as André Botha, Allan Hall, and Chris van der Merwe for their assistance with the microscopy.