Melatonin reduces inflammation and recovers endogenous ghrelin in acute necrotizing pancreatitis in rats.
The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of melatonin on either ghrelin secretion or gastric mucosal injury in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). ANP was induced in rats by L-arginine. Prior to L-arginine injection, the rats were pre-treated with melatonin for 30 min. Following the last injection, the animals were sacrificed at different time-points. The levels of ghrelin and melatonin in the serum and gastric tissue were detected by ELISA. Levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activities in gastric tissue were measured. In rats with ANP, acute gastric injury was observed, and the levels of MDA, SOD, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly increased. The melatonin levels in serum or gastric tissue peaked at 6 h and returned to normal levels at 12 h after melatonin was administered. However, ghrelin remained at low levels during the first 12 h, but it recovered at 24 h and continued increasing, while the levels of oxidative stress damage and activity of inflammatory factors were decreased. The protective effects of melatonin on acute gastric injury during the early stages of ANP may be mediated through anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, while at advanced stages of ANP, it may be mediated through the recovered endogenous ghrelin.
Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Zhi-Hai
ZH
Liang
Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Meng-Bin
MB
Qin
Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Guo-Du
GD
Tang
Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Hui-Ying
HY
Yang
Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Juan
J
Su
Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Jie-An
JA
Huang
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D054439:Ghrelin; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D008550:Melatonin