Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic administration of melatonin on renal ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.
Methodology: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups: control (C), diabetes mellitus (DM), control+IR (C+IR), DM+IR, Melatonin+IR (Mel+IR), DM+Mel+IR. Diabetic and non-diabetic rats were given melatonin 4mg/kg/day, i.p., for 15 days. The left renal artery and vein of rats were occluded for 30 min at the 18 th day, followed by 24h of reperfusion.
Results: In comparison with control group, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC) and and nitric oxide (NO) were determined to be higher in the renal homogenates of DM, DM + IR and C + IR groups. MDA and NO levels were found to be similar in the DM + melatonin + IR and control groups. The most significant histological damage was found in the DM + IR group and this damage was significantly reduced by melatonin.
Conclusion: Chronic melatonin treatment reduces renal injury by reducing lipid oxidation and NO production in STZ-induced diabetic rats exposed to IR.
C1 Harran Univ, Fac Med, Dept Pharmacol, TR-63200 Sanliurfa, Turkey.
Inonu Univ, Fac Med, Dept Pharmacol, Malatya, Turkey.
Inonu Univ, Fac Med, Dept Histol & Embryol, Malatya, Turkey.
Hacettepe Univ, Fac Med, Dept Physiol, Ankara, Turkey.
Harran Univ, Fac Med, Dept Pathol, Sanliurfa, Turkey.