title: Evaluation of the antiperoxidative effects of melatonin in ammonium acetate-treated Wistar rats.
abstract: The efficacy of melatonin (MLT) against ammonium acetate-induced neurotoxicity was biochemically studied in the experimental rats. The activities of serum transaminases and the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were significantly increased in ammonium acetate-treated rats. These levels were significantly decreased in MLT and ammonium acetate-treated rats. Further, non-enzymatic (vitamin C and E) and enzymatic (superoxide dismutase and catalase) antioxidants were significantly decreased in ammonium acetate-treated rats and were increased in MLT and ammonium acetate-treated rats. These biochemical alterations during MLT treatment could be due to its ability to: (i) scavenge a variety of radicals and reactive species, (ii) induce antioxidative enzymes which reduce steady state levels of reactive species, (iii) inhibit nitric oxide synthase which generates nitric oxide and (iv) stabilize cell membranes which assists them in reducing oxidative damage and, thus, prevents the oxidative stress in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar--608 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lena
authors.forename: Perumal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Subramanian
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014810:Vitamin E; D000641:Ammonia; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D008550:Melatonin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; C018824:ammonium acetate