Effects of adenosine triphosphate and coenzyme Q10 on potential hydroxychloroquine-induced retinal damage in rats

This study aimed to investigate biochemically and histopathologically the protective effect of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) against potential hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)-induced retinal damage in rats. Twenty-four male albino Wistar-type rats were randomly separated into four groups: healthy (HG), receiving HCQ (HQG), receiving ATP + HCQ (AHQ), and receiving CoQ10 + HCQ (CoQHQ). ATP (4 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was given to the AHQ, and CoQ10 (10 mg/kg, oral) to the CoQHQ. Rats in the HQG, AHQ, and CoQHQ were given HCQ (120 mg/kg, oral) 1 h after administering ATP and CoQ10. Treatments continued once a day for seven days. On the 8th day, the rats were sacrificed with 50 mg/kg sodium thiopental, and the eyes were removed. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (tGSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured in the retrieved eye tissues and retinal tissues were assessed histopathologically. An increase in MDA and IL-6 levels and a decrease in tGSH, SOD, and CAT levels were detected in the eye tissues of the HQGcompared to the HG. HCQ-induced changes in oxidant and antioxidant levels were significantly suppressed by ATP and CoQ10 treatment. ATP was more successful than CoQ10 in this inhibition. Severe damage was observed in the eye tissues of the HQG group, whereas the damage was mild in the AHQ and moderate in the CoQHQ. Although both ATP and CoQ10 have the potential to be effective in the prevention of HCQ-induced retinal damage through antioxidative activity, ATP appears to be the more preferable treatment approach.