Coenzyme Q10 Mitigates Methamphetamine Induced Oxidative Stress and Neurobehavioral Deficits in Adult Male Wistar

Methamphetamine abuse has become a growing public health concern, particularly among Nigerian youths, where it is often consumed for its stimulant and euphoric effects but is associated with severe neurotoxic consequences. This study focused to investigate whether Coenzyme Q10 can protect or restore hippocampal integrity and function in adult male Wistar rats subjected to methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity. A total of Forty (40) Male Adult wistar rat. The animals were grouped into four, Group A -D. GROUP A: served as control and received water and feed, GROUP B: received 20mg/kg/day of methamphetamine in a binge-like pattern, with 5 mg/kg administered four times a day at least two hours apart., GROUP C: received 50mg/kg of coenzyme Q10, GROUP D: received 20mg/kg of methamphetamine and 50mg/kg of Coenzyme Q10. Twenty-four hours after the end of the last administration which lasted for 14days the animals were euthanised using 80 mg/kg of ketamine through intraperitoneal injection. The brain containing the hippocampus was harvested and either homogenized for biochemical studies or fixed in 10% formalin for histological analysis. Findings from this research present notable decrease in the weight of group B (exposed to Methamphetamine only) when compared to the control, severe neuronal degeneration with moderate perivascular edema (PE) and Vacoulation (V). These changes were mitigated using Coenzyme Q10. The study suggests that Coenzyme Q10 has mitigating effects of methamphetamine-induced hippocampus toxicity.