title: Melatonin enhances the in vitro action of cytochalasin B on globular resistance and osmotic fragility of erythrocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some researches have shown that melatonin (MLT) has effects on the erythrocyte deformability and on the osmotic fragility which, currently, seem to be heterogeneous and fragmentary.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This work wished to evaluate in vitro the possible modifying action of MLT at pharmaceutical doses on the osmotic fragility of rat blood samples treated with cytochalasin B (CB). The variation of the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels have been measured because LDH is an enzyme which is considered an important marker of hemolysis. Working in a strongly reducing environment has been necessary in order to avoid possible antioxidant actions of MLT, measuring the plasma levels of malondialdehyde and total phospholipids in order to highlight possible MLT actions which are not related to its recognized antioxidant properties.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data show a possible MLT action which strengthens the CB action on the osmotic fragility and on the membrane deformability of the erythrocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under the adopted working conditions, a direct relation of MLT with the biochemical dynamics of the cytoskeleton-mediated processes can be suggested. Further studies will be needed to clarify the mechanisms and the extent of the observed phenomena.
authors.affiliation: Prof. Luigi Di Bella Private Physiology Laboratory & Associazione Italiana Ammalati Neoplastici Maria Teresa Rossi, Modena, Italy. nicolapacini77@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pacini
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menozzi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borziani
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D003571:Cytochalasin B / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability / Q000187:drug effects*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009996:Osmotic Fragility / Q000187:drug effects*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D010743:Phospholipids; D003571:Cytochalasin B; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D008550:Melatonin