[Effects of melatonin on nerve cell apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 & cytochrome C genes in rat cerebrum with deltamethrin induction].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of melatonin (MT) on nerve cell apoptosis and the expression of bcl-2 and cytochrome C genes in rat cerebrum with deltamethrin induction.


METHODS
35 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (eight rats per group): olive oil control, deltamethrin-treated (12.5 mg/kg), deltamethrin plus melatonin (25.0 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg respectively) group. Animal models were established by intraperitoneal injection deltamethrin in rats. Nerve cell apoptosis and the protein expression of bcl-2 and cytochrome C genes were detected by flow cytometry with PI staining and immunohistochemistry respectively.


RESULTS
Compared with DM group (20.73 +/- 3.34), the positive expression gradation of the bcl-2 protein in nerve cell was increased significantly in MT groups (DM + MT(25) was 45.26 +/- 3.84, DM + MT(50) 39.4 +/- 4.04 and DM + MT(100) 34.4 +/- 4.52) (P < 0.05) but significantly lower than the control group (59.33 +/- 4.03). Compared with DM group (34.86 +/- 4.15), the cytochrome C protein in nerve cell was decreased significantly in MT groups (20.53 +/- 3.17, 28.73 +/- 2.61 and 28.66 +/- 4.82 respectively) (P < 0.05). Compared with DM group (23.06 +/- 3.63), the apoptotic rate in nerve cell was decreased significantly in MT groups [(15.0 +/- 1.77)%, (14.88 +/- 1.84)% and (11.75 +/- 1.93)% respectively] (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
MT can protect nerve cell against deltamethrin induced brain injury by inhibiting nerve cell apoptosis, downregulate the protein expression of cytochrome C gene and upregulate the protein expression of bcl-2 gene.
Guo
Li
L
Department of Health Toxicology, MOE Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
Sun
Min
M
Xu
Pei-pei
PP
Xu
Yi-ping
YP
Lu
Hui-ping
HP
Si
Hong-yu
HY
Yan
Hong
H
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009570:Nitriles / Q000633:toxicity*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D009570:Nitriles; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011722:Pyrethrins; C017180:decamethrin; D045304:Cytochromes c; D008550:Melatonin