title: Melatonin reduces traumatic brain injury-induced oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex and blood of rats.
abstract: Free radicals induced by traumatic brain injury have deleterious effects on the function and antioxidant vitamin levels of several organ systems including the brain. Melatonin possesses antioxidant effect on the brain by maintaining antioxidant enzyme and vitamin levels. We investigated the effects of melatonin on antioxidant ability in the cerebral cortex and blood of traumatic brain injury rats. Results showed that the cerebral cortex β-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, reduced glutathione, and erythrocyte reduced glutathione levels, and plasma vitamin C level were decreased by traumatic brain injury whereas they were increased following melatonin treatment. In conclusion, melatonin seems to have protective effects on traumatic brain injury-induced cerebral cortex and blood toxicity by inhibiting free radical formation and supporting antioxidant vitamin redox system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Suleyman Demirel, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nilgün
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Senol
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, University of Suleyman Demirel, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nazıroğlu
keywords: antioxidant; brain; glutathione; melatonin; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; oxidative stress; traumatic brain injury; vitamin C; vitamin E