Coenzyme Q10 in the human retina.

PURPOSE To determine the concentration of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in the human retina. METHODS Eye tissues were lyophilized and exhaustively extracted with heptane. The extracts were analyzed for CoQ10 by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS The average concentration of CoQ10 in the retina was 42+/-11 nanomoles/g dry retina for donors younger than 30 years of age and 24+/-13 nanomoles/g dry retina for donors older than 80 years of age. The average concentrations of CoQ10 in the choroid was 27+/-16 nanomoles/g dry choroid for donors younger than 30 age and 18+/-11 nanomoles/g dry choroid for donors older than 80. CONCLUSIONS CoQ10 levels in the retina can decline by approximately 40% with age. This decline may have two consequences: a decrease in antioxidant ability and a decrease in the rate of ATP synthesis in the retina and, as such, this decline may be linked to the progression of macular degeneration.