title: Melatonin protects against rotenone-induced oxidative stress in a hemiparkinsonian rat model.
abstract: In the present study, we evaluated the effect of melatonin, a well-known free radical scavenger and neuroprotector, against rotenone-induced oxidative stress in a hemiparkinsonian rat model. The effect of melatonin on glutathione (GSH) depletion caused by unilateral, intranigral infusion of rotenone was investigated employing a spectrofluorimetric procedure. We also studied the effect of melatonin on rotenone-induced changes in the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in the cytosolic fractions of substantia nigra (SN), employing spectrophotometric procedures. Rotenone-induced hydroxyl radicals (*OH) in the isolated mitochondria, as measured employing a sensitive HPLC-electrochemical method, were significantly scavenged by melatonin. Melatonin treatment restored the rotenone-induced decrease in GSH level and changes in antioxidant enzyme (SOD and catalase) activities in the SN. Our results strongly indicate melatonin's beneficial use in Parkinson's disease therapy as an antioxidant.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical & Experimental Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Calcutta, India.
authors.forename: Karuppagounder S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Saravanan
authors.forename: Kizhakke M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sindhu
authors.forename: Kochupurackal P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Mohanakumar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012402:Rotenone; D013367:Submitochondrial Particles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012402:Rotenone; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D008550:Melatonin