title: Melatonin reduces quinolinic acid-induced lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenate.
abstract: The protective effects of melatonin against the neurotoxin, quinolinic acid, were investigated in rat brain homogenate using the thiobarbituric acid assay. Quinolinic acid increased lipid peroxidation in a dose dependent manner. When homogenate was cotreated with melatonin there was a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation. The results of the present report show that melatonin may play a protective role in the brain against the neurohormone quinolinic acid, which has been identified as a causative agent in Huntington's Disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. chsd@giraffe.ru.ac.za
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Southgate
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017378:Quinolinic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D017378:Quinolinic Acid; D008550:Melatonin