title: Effect of melatonin on cerebral vasospasm following experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study was undertaken to determine whether melatonin therapy reverses vasospasm and prevents apoptosis by inhibiting lipid peroxidation in an experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rabbits were divided into four groups as follows: Group 1, SAH + melatonin (5 mg/kg/i.p. BID) simultaneously with SAH (n = 6); Group 2, SAH + melatonin (5 mg/kg/i.p. BID) treated 2 hours after SAH (n = 6); Group 3, control group (n = 4); Group 4, SAH only (n = 6). Light microscopic examinations of the basilar arteries were performed to demonstrate the pathophysiological changes of the arterial wall with hematoxylin- eosin. Apoptosis: Immunohistology using the ApopTag Peroxidase In Situ Apoptosis Detection Kit was used to demonstrate apoptosis in a cross section of basilary arteries. Apoptotic index was calculated as the number of the immunoreactive nuclei per total number of endothelial cells, and expressed as a percentage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of measurements of diameters of the vessels between groups were significantly different (p = 0.028). While basilar arteries of the SAH only group showed 57% constriction, Groups 1 and 2 were calculated as 33 and 26% constriction, respectively, compared with the control group (p < 0.05). And also Groups 1 and 2 showed significant protection of apoptosis compared with Group 4. The difference between the four groups was tested by Kruskal-Wallis test and the significance between the two groups was tested by Mann- Whitney U-test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Melatonin with its strong antioxidant effect can prevent SAH-induced vasospasm and apoptosis of endothelial cells of vessels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Baskent University, 1250, Yuregir-Adana/Turkey. volkan8@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M Volkan
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Caner
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozen
authors.forename: Basar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Atalay
authors.forename: Melih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cekinmez
authors.forename: Nur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Altinors
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin