Kübra Paskaloglu

Melatonin protects against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Acute renal failure is a major complication of gentamicin (GEN), which is widely used in the treatment of gram‐negative infections. A large body of in vitro and in vivo evidence indicates that reactive oxygen metabolites (or free radicals) are important mediators of gentamicin nephrotoxicity. In this study we investigated the role of free radicals in gentamicin‐induced nephrotoxicity and whether melatonin, a potent antioxidant could prevent it. For this purpose female Sprague–Dawley rats were given intraperitoneally either gentamicin sulphate (40 mg/kg), melatonin (10 mg/kg), gentamicin plus melatonin or vehicle (control) twice daily for 14 days. The rats were decapitated on the 15th day and kidneys were removed. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels were measured in the blood and malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, protein oxidation (PO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were determined in the renal tissue. Gentamicin was observed to cause a severe nephrotoxicity which was evidenced by an elevation of BUN and creatinine levels. The significant decrease in GSH and increases in MDA levels, PO and MPO activity indicated that GEN‐induced tissue injury was mediated through oxidative reactions. On the other hand simultaneous melatonin administration protected kidney tissue against the oxidative damage and the nephrotoxic effect caused by GEN treatment.

Protective Effect of Famotidine, Omeprazole, and Melatonin Against Acetylsalicylic Acid-Induced Gastric Damage in Rats

It has been reported that both omeprazole and famotidine have a protective effect against gastric mucosal damage induced by acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Since active oxygen species and lipid peroxidation were reported to play a role in the pathogenesis induced by ASA, we aimed to study if omeprazole and famotidine have any antioxidant effect by comparing their protective effect with that of melatonin, an effective antioxidant and free radical scavenger. Mucosal damage was evaluated by macroscopic examination, histological analysis and by measurement of lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione (GSH), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Omeprazole (20 μmol/kg per os), famotidine (3 mg/kg per os), and melatonin (10 mg/kg intraperitoneally) significantly prevented gastric ulcerogenesis induced by ASA (200 mg/kg per os) and decreased the ulcer index. Gastric LPO and MPO activity that were increased significantly by ASA were decreased after treatment with omeprazole, famotidine, and melatonin. ASA treatment decreased significantly the gastric GSH levels, and pretreatment with omeprazole, famotidine, or melatonin increased it significantly. Famotidine and omeprazole decreased the gastric acidity, which was increased by ASA, whereas melatonin had no effect on this parameter. These findings suggest that active oxygene species and LPO have an important role in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal damage induced by ASA and that both famotidine and omeprazole may be protective against this damage, although they were not as efficient as melatonin as an antioxidant. On the other hand, the antisecretory effect of omeprazole and famotidine may also be contributing to their antiulcer effect.

L-carnitine ameliorates oxidative damage due to chronic renal failure in rats.

Abstract: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with oxidative stress that promotes production of reactive oxygen species. L-Carnitine is a cofactor required for transport of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondrial matrix. Recent research has shown that some clinical conditions (ie, anorexia, chronic fatigue, coronary heart disease, diphtheria, hypoglycemia, and male infertility) benefit from exogenous supplementation of L-carnitine. The aim of this study was to examine the role of L-carnitine in protecting the aorta, heart, corpus cavernosum, and kidney tissues against oxidative damage in a rat model of CRF. Male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to either the CRF group or the sham-operated control group, which had received saline or L-carnitine (500 mg/kg, i.p.) for 4 weeks. CRF was evaluated by BUN and serum creatinine measurements. Aorta and corporeal tissues were used for contractility studies or stored along with heart and kidney tissues for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels. Plasma MDA, GSH levels and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were also studied. In the CRF group, the contraction and the relaxation of aorta and corpus cavernosum samples decreased significantly compared with controls and were partially reversed by L-carnitine treatment. In the CRF group, there were significant increases in tissue MDA with marked reductions in GSH levels in all tissues and plasma compared with controls. In the plasma SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities were also reduced. All these effects were reversed by L-carnitine as well. The increase in MDA level and the concomitant decrease in GSH level of tissues and plasma and also suppression of the antioxidant enzyme activities in plasma demonstrate that oxidative mechanisms are involved in CRF-induced tissue damage. L-carnitine, possibly via its free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties, ameliorates oxidative organ injury and CRF-induced dysfunction of the aorta and corpus cavernosum. These results suggest that L-carnitine supplementation may have some benefit in CRF patients.

Melatonin ameliorates chronic renal failure-induced oxidative organ damage in rats

Abstract:  Chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with oxidative stress that promotes production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Melatonin, the chief secretory product of the pineal gland, was recently found to be a potent free radical scavenger and antioxidant. The aim of this study was to examine the role of melatonin in protecting the aorta, heart, corpus cavernosum, lung, diaphragm, and kidney tissues against oxidative damage in a rat model of CRF, which was induced by five of six nephrectomy. Male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to either the CRF group or the sham‐operated control group, which had received saline or melatonin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) for 4 wk. CRF was evaluated by serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level and creatinine measurements. Aorta and corporeal tissues were used for contractility studies, or stored along with heart, lung, diaphragm, and kidney tissues for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA, an index of lipid peroxidation), protein carbonylation (PC, an index for protein oxidation), and glutathione (GSH) levels (a key antioxidant). Plasma MDA, PC, and GSH levels and erythrocytic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activities were studied to evaluate the changes of antioxidant status in CRF. In the CRF group, the contraction and the relaxation of aorta and corpus cavernosum samples decreased significantly compared with controls (P < 0.05–0.001). Melatonin treatment of the CRF group restored these responses. In the CRF group, there were significant increases in tissue MDA and PC levels in all tissues with marked reductions in GSH levels compared with controls (P < 0.05–0.001). In the plasma, while MDA and PC levels increased, GSH, SOD, CAT, and GSH‐Px activities were reduced. Melatonin treatment reversed these effects as well. In this study, the increase in MDA and PC levels and the concomitant decrease in GSH levels of tissues and plasma and also SOD, CAT, GSH‐Px activities of plasma demonstrate the role of oxidative mechanisms in CRF‐induced tissue damage, and melatonin, via its free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties, ameliorates oxidative organ injury. CRF‐induced dysfunction of the aorta and corpus cavernosum of rats was reversed by melatonin treatment. Thus, supplementing CRF patients with adjuvant therapy of melatonin may have some benefit.

Melatonin treatment protects against ischemia/reperfusion-induced functional and biochemical changes in rat urinary bladder

Abstract: Reactive oxygen metabolites play important roles in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in several systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of melatonin against I/R injury of the rat urinary bladder. The abdominal aorta was clamped to induce ischemia for 30 min, then the animals were subjected to 60 min of reperfusion. Melatonin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or the vehicle (control 1% alcohol i.p.) was administered before I/R. After decapitation, the bladder was removed and the tissue was either used for functional studies or stored for measurement of products of lipid peroxidation (LP), glutathione (GSH) levels and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO). Bladder strips were suspended in oxygenated Tyrodes buffer at 37°C and isometric contractions to carbachol (CCh; 10−8–10−4 m) were recorded.

Melatonin reverses urinary system and aorta damage in the rat due to chronic nicotine administration.

We have evaluated the changes in contractile activity and oxidant damage of corpus cavernosum, urinary bladder, kidney and aorta after chronic nicotine administration in rats. The effects of melatonin on these parameters were investigated also. Male Wistar albino rats were injected intraperitoneally with nicotine hydrogen bitartrate (0.6 mg kg−1 daily for 21 days) or saline. Melatonin (10 mg kg−1, i.p.) was administered either alone or with nicotine injections. Corpus cavernosum, bladder and aorta were used for contractility studies, or stored with kidneys for the measurement of malondialdehyde and glutathione levels. Corpus cavernosum, bladder, and aorta samples were examined histologically and the extent of microscopic tissue damage was scored. In the nicotine‐treated group, the contraction of corpus cavernosum, bladder and aorta samples and the relaxation of corporeal and aorta tissues decreased significantly compared with controls. However, melatonin treatment restored these responses. In the nicotine‐treated group, there was a significant increase in the malondialdehyde levels of the corporeal tissue, bladder, kidney and aorta, with marked reductions in glutathione levels compared with controls. Melatonin treatment reversed these effects also. Melatonin administration to nicotine‐treated animals caused a marked reduction in the microscopic damage of the tissues compared with those of the untreated group. In this study, nicotine‐induced dysfunction of the corpus cavernosum, bladder and aorta of rats was reversed by melatonin treatment. Moreover, melatonin, as an antioxidant, abolished elevation in lipid peroxidation products, and reduction in the endogenous antioxidant glutathione, and protected the tissues from severe damage due to nicotine exposure.