Characterizing the Effects of Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ) Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Function and Myogenesis During Oxidative Stress and IUGR.

Allyson J. Wood, The University of Western Ontario

Abstract

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) affects 10-15% of births and is associated with placental insufficiency (PI), resulting in fetal oxidative stress (OS). This OS is a factor in the predisposition to postnatal noncommunicable disease (NCD) of which muscle mitochondrial dysfunctional is a key aspect. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), an antioxidant-like compound, is capable of OS reduction and promotes mitochondrial function, though limited research has focused on its effects in in utero skeletal muscle. This study sought to investigate the impact of in vitro H₂O₂, a model of OS, and an in vivo model of OS associated IUGR, with PQQ administration, on fetal myogenesis and muscle mitochondrial function. H₂O₂, IUGR, and unexpectedly PQQ, reduced expression of myogenic and mitochondrial genes. Therefore, PQQ does not appear to attenuate OS-induced myogenic and mitochondrial dysfunction and instead negatively altered associated genes. These changes have unknown long-term consequences for altered muscle metabolism and its contribution to NCD.