title: Melatonin and vitamin C ameliorate alcohol-induced oxidative stress and eNOS expression in rat kidney.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of melatonin and vitamin C as antioxidants on renal injury in chronic alcohol consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 24 adult male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were used in the study. Rats were divided into four equal groups. Group I (control): rats were not fed on alcohol; Group II: rats were fed on alcohol; Group III: rats were fed on alcohol and 40 mg/kg vitamin C; and Group IV: rats were fed on alcohol and 4 mg/kg melatonin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Light microscopic examination revealed atrophic renal corpuscles, dilatation and congestion of the peritubular vessels, and renal corpuscles with obscure Bowman's space and a few foamy-appearing tubules due to alcohol consumption were observed. Expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was localized to glomerulus, distal, and collector tubules. eNOS staining decreased in alcohol treatment group and melatonin and vitamin C encore increased expression pattern of eNOS. Alcohol consumption increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities significantly in the alcohol consumption groups compared with that in the control group, while in melatonin give group just MDA level was decreased statistically significant and SOD and CAT activities were also decreased numerically compared with the alcohol consumption groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicated that chronic alcohol consumption caused renal damage by increased lipid peroxidation and melatonin and vitamin C administration produced in some degree protection against alcohol-induced damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey. mfsonmez@erciyes.edu.tr
authors.forename: Mehmet Fatih
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Sönmez
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Narin
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Akkuş
authors.forename: Ayşegül Burçin
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Türkmen
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014815:Vitamins; D000431:Ethanol; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D008550:Melatonin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid