title: Melatonin treatment prevents modulation of cell-mediated immune response induced by propoxur in rats.
abstract: The effect of melatonin, a major secretory product of the pineal gland, in attenuation of propoxur (2-isopropoxy phenyl N-methyl carbamate)-induced modulation of cell-mediated immune (CMI) response was studied in rats. Male Wistar albino rats were exposed to propoxur (a widely used pesticide) orally (10 mg/kg) and/or melatonin (10 mg/kg) orally for 4 weeks. CMI was measured by delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), leucocyte and macrophage migration inhibition (LMI and MMI) responses and estimation of cytokines TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma levels. Rats exposed to propoxur for 4 weeks showed significant decrease in DTH, LMI and MMI responses. Propoxur also suppressed TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma production significantly. Administration of melatonin alone caused a significant increase in DTH response. Although there were no changes in the LMI and MMI response, the cytokine levels were significantly increased, as compared to control. Co-administration of melatonin along with propoxur significantly nullified the effect of the pesticide on the CMI response, except DTH and reversed levels of cytokines to near control/normal values. Thus, melatonin treatment considerably attenuated immunomodulation caused by sub-chronic treatment of propoxur in experimental animals.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Biochemistry and Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University College of Medical Sciences and G.T.B. Hospital (University of Delhi), Dilshad Garden, Delhi 110 095, India.
authors.forename: Sanvidhan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Suke
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.forename: Rafat S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Banerjee
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000737:chemistry; D001074:Propoxur / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D010575:Pesticides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001074:Propoxur; D008550:Melatonin