Neuroprotection by melatonin from kainate-induced excitotoxicity in rats.
In this study, we injected 10 mg/kg kainate i.p. into rats. This resulted in a brain injury, which we quantified in the hippocampus, the amygdala, and the pyriform cortex. Neuronal damage was preceded by a set of typical behavioral signs and by biochemical changes (noradrenaline decrease and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid increase) in the affected brain areas. Melatonin (2.5 mg/kg) was injected i.p. four times: 20 min before kainate, immediately after, and 1 and 2 h after the kainate. The cumulative dose of 10 mg/kg melatonin prevented kainate-induced neuronal death as well as behavioral and biochemical disturbances. A possible mechanism of melatonin-provided neuroprotection lies in its antioxidant action. Our results suggest that melatonin holds potential for the treatment of pathologies such as epilepsy-associated brain damage, stroke, and brain trauma.
Giusti
P
P
Department of Pharmacology, University of Padua, Italy.
Lipartiti
M
M
Franceschini
D
D
Schiavo
N
N
Floreani
M
M
Manev
H
H
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000975:Antioxidants; D008550:Melatonin; D007608:Kainic Acid