title: The effects of melatonin on intestinal adaptation in a rat model of short bowel syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a clinical condition resulting from the loss of absorptive surface area following resection of 50% or more small bowel. Morphological and functional changes called "intestinal adaptation" occur in the residual intestine. Melatonin exists in the gastrointestinal tract and has effect on mitotic activity. Therefore, we hypothesized that melatonin may have beneficial effects on intestinal adaptation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 32 male Wistar albino male rats were divided into four groups. In group I (sham-S), small bowel was transected and reanastomosed. In group II (SBS-control), 75% small bowel resection and anastomosis were performed. In group III (SBS-vehicle), after 75% small bowel resection and anastomosis, 2 mL of 5% ethanol in saline was given intraperitoneally once a day. In group IV (SBS-melatonin), after 75% small bowel resection and anastomosis, 300 µg/kg melatonin was given intraperitoneally once a day. After 15 days, small bowels were removed and divided into two segments as jejunum and ileum. Each segment was weight and measured. Histological examination was performed in all samples. Bowel and mucosal weights and DNA/protein ratio were calculated. Apoptotic cells were also identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bowel length measurements were statistically longer in group IV. Mucosal and bowel weights were the highest in group IV. The villus height, crypt depth, and the number of mitotic figures were the highest in the jejunum of group IV. Melatonin also gave rise to a significant increase in DNA/protein ratios in group IV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to this study, melatonin significantly enhanced intestinal adaptation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guclu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Billur
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demirogullari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sureyya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ibrahim Onur
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Ozen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Gaziantep Children's Hospital, Sehitkamil, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors.forename: Süleyman Cüneyt
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Karakus
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aylar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poyraz
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhittin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serdar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karabulut
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Türkyılmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sönmez
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nuri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kale
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Apdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Başaklar
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007082:Ileum / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology*; D009929:Organ Size; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D004247:DNA; D008550:Melatonin