title: Effects of melatonin on aluminium-induced neurobehavioral and neurochemical changes in aging rats.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of melatonin (Mel) against aluminium-induced neurodegenerative changes in aging Wistar rats (24-28months old). Herein, aluminium chloride (AlCl3) (50mg/kg BW/day) was administered by gavage, and melatonin (Mel) was co-administered to a group of Al-treated rats by an intra-peritoneal injection at a daily dose of 10mg/kg BW for four months. The findings revealed that aluminium administration induced a significant decrease in body weight associated with marked mortality for the old group of rats, which was more pronounced in old Al-treated rats. Behavioural alterations were assessed by 'open fields', 'elevated plus maze' and 'Radial 8-arms maze' tests. The results demonstrated that Mel co-administration alleviated neurobehavioral changes in both old and old Al-treated rats. Melatonin was noted to play a good neuroprotective role, reducing lipid peroxidation (TBARs), and enhancing enzymatic (SOD, CAT and GPx) activities in the brain organs of old control and old Al-treated rats. Mel treatment also reversed the decrease of AChE activity in the brain tissues, which was confirmed by histological sections. Overall, the results showed that Mel administration can induce beneficial effects for the treatment of Al-induced neurobehavioral and neurochemical changes in the central nervous system (CNS).
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Ecophysiologie, Faculty of Science of Sfax, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia; Laboratory Biologie Cellulaire et pollution, Toulouse Purpan, France. Electronic address: amsallagui@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Allagui
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Ecophysiologie, Faculty of Science of Sfax, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feriani
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Ecophysiologie, Faculty of Science of Sfax, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saoudi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sfax, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Badraoui
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Ecophysiologie, Faculty of Science of Sfax, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bouoni
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Ecophysiologie, Faculty of Science of Sfax, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nciri
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Biologie Cellulaire et pollution, Toulouse Purpan, France.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Murat
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Ecophysiologie, Faculty of Science of Sfax, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elfeki
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D000535:Aluminum / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D000535:Aluminum; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: AChE activity; Aging; Aluminium toxicity; Brain; Melatonin; Oxidative stress