Ameliorative effect of melatonin against contrast media induced renal tubular cell injury.
OBJECTIVE
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a mediator of renal damage. Melatonin is a potent-free radical scavenger. Our objective was to test whether melatonin would protect against the nephrotoxicity of contrast media.


METHODS
In an experimental study 40 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four equal groups including: 1) Control group (No drug), 2) Contrast media group (10 ml/kg iodixanol i.v. single dose), 3) Contrast media and melatonin (first 10 ml/kg iodixanol then 10 ml/kg/day melatonin by i.p. injection on days 3, 4 and 5) and 4) Contrast media and melatonin pretreatment group (melatonin 10 ml/ kg/day by i.p. injection on 1, 2 and 3 days, then 10 ml/kg iodixanol by i.v. injection on third day. The blood creatinine and BUN as well as the histological changes were evaluated for severity of renal injury (degeneration, vacuolization of tubular renal cells, dilatation of tubular lumen and presence of debris in the lumens), by scoring from one to four.


RESULTS
Contrast media significantly increased the creatinine and BUN and renal injury (p<0.05). Melatonin prevented and reversed the injury induced by contrast media (P<0.05). Pretreatment with melatonin reduced the renal injury induced by contrast media (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Melatonin is an effective drug to prevent contrast-induced renal injury. Therefore its usage (especially pretreatment) might be beneficial in patients who are planning to use contrast media agents.
Hamid Nasri, Department of Nephrology, Division of Nephropathology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Hamid
H
Nasri
Maryam Tavakoli, Department of Internal Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Maryam
M
Tavakoli
Ali Ahmadi, Department of Epidemiology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Ali
A
Ahmadi
Azar Baradaran, Department of Pathology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Azar
A
Baradaran
Mehdi Nematbakhsh, Water and Electrolytes, Research Center, Department of Physiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Mehdi
M
Nematbakhsh
Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei, Medical Plants Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Sharekord, Iran.
Mahmoud
M
Rafieian-Kopaei
Contrast media; Contrast-induced nephropathy; Iodixanol; Melatonin; Reactive oxygen species; Renal failure