title: Neuroprotection by melatonin from kainate-induced excitotoxicity in rats.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giusti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lipartiti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schiavo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Floreani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Manev
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008550:Melatonin; D007608:Kainic Acid