[Effect of melatonin on glial fibrillary acidic protein, nuclear factor-kB and synaptophysin expressions in aging mice].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of melatonin on the expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB p65) and synaptophysin in mice of different ages.


METHODS
Twenty young male B6C3F1 mice (5.5 months) and 20 aged mice (26 months) were both divided into control and melatonin treatment (daily dose of 0.04 mg/kg) groups. After 2.5 months of treatment, the brain tissues of the mice were collected to examine the expressions of GFAP, NF-κB and SYN by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
In the control groups, the expression of NF-κB p65 in the brain tissue increased with age, whereas a reverse change was found in melatonin-treated aged rats (P<0.05). Synaptophysin expression also decreased with age, but melatonin treatment significantly enhanced its expression in aged mice (P<0.05). GFAP expression in the brain tissue increased with age regardless of melatonin treatment (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
GFAP expression is almost not affected by melatonin treatment in aged mice. Melatonin can reduce the expression levels of NF-κB p65 and synaptophysin in the brain tissue to protect the brain and slow down the aging process.
Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Li
L
Zhou
Qing-ren
QR
Zeng
Jun
J
Zhou
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002678:Chimera; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C498144:Rela protein, mouse; D016708:Synaptophysin; C569015:Syp protein, mouse; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; C528900:glial fibrillary astrocytic protein, mouse; D008550:Melatonin