title: Melatonin decreases muscular oxidative stress and inflammation induced by strenuous exercise and stimulates growth factor synthesis.
abstract: Strenuous exercise is detrimental to athletes because of the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Melatonin, a classic antioxidant, has been shown to exhibit beneficial effects regarding intense exercise and tissue repair. In this study, we evaluated the onset and resolution of inflammation in melatonin-treated and nontreated rats subjected to a strenuous exercise session. We also analyzed the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Control and treated rats were subjected to exhaustive exercise after a period of 10 days of melatonin treatment (20 mg/dL). Plasma and muscle levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-2-alpha/beta (CINC-2α/β), l-selectin, macrophage inflammatory protein-3-alpha (MIP-3α), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured prior to, immediately after, and 2 hr after exercise. Our data revealed decreases in the muscle concentrations of IL-1β (35%), TNF-α (13%), IL-6 (48%), and TBARS (40%) in the melatonin-treated group compared with the control group. We also observed decreases in the plasma concentrations of IL-1β (17%) in the melatonin-treated group. VEGF-α concentrations and SOD activity increased by 179% and 22%, respectively, in the melatonin-treated group compared with the control group. We concluded that muscle inflammation and oxidative stress resulting from exhaustive exercise were less severe in the muscles of melatonin-treated animals than in the muscles of control animals. Thus, melatonin treatment may reverse exercise-induced skeletal muscle inflammation and stimulate growth factor synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Cruzeiro do Sul University, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro da Silva
authors.initials: Lda S
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dermargos
authors.forename: Edenilson Pinto
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: da Silva Junior
authors.forename: Eleine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weimann
authors.forename: Rafael Herling
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Lambertucci
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hatanaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: antioxidant; immune systems; interleukin; physical activity and cytokines; soleus muscle; thiobarbituric acid reactive substances