title: The effect of melatonin on the liver of rats exposed to microwave radiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to clarify if melatonin treatment (2 mg/kg i.p.) may favorably impact the liver tissue in rats exposed to microwave radiation. The experiment was performed on 84 six-weeks-old Wistar male rats exposed for 4h a day, for 20, 40 and 60 days, respectively, to microwaves (900 MHz, 100-300 microT, 54-160 V/m). Rats were divided in to four groups: I (control) - rats treated with saline, II (Mel) - rats treated with melatonin, III (MWs) - microwave exposed rats, IV (MWs + Mel) - MWs exposed rats treated with melatonin. We evaluated oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde and carbonyl group content), catalase, xanthine oxidase, deoxyribonuclease I and II activity.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Oxidative stress is the key mechanism of the microwave induced tissue injury. Melatonin, a lipophilic indoleamine primarily synthesized and released from the pineal gland is a powerful antioxidant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposure to microwaves caused an increase in malondialdehyde after 40 (p < 0.01), protein carbonyl content after 20 (p < 0.05), catalase (p < 0.05) and xantine oxidase activity (p < 0.05) after 40 days. Increase in deoxyribonuclease I activity was observed after 60 days (p < 0.05), while deoxyribonuclease II activity was unaffected. Melatonin treatment led to malondialdehyde decrease after 40 days (p< 0.05), but surprisingly had no effect on other analyzed parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Melatonin exerts certain antioxidant effects in the liver of rats exposed to microwaves, by diminishing the intensity of lipid peroxidation(Fig. 6, Ref. 32).
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Djordjevic
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Sokolovic
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Kocic
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Veljkovic
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Despotovic
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Basic
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Jevtovic-Stoimenov
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Sokolovic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D008550:Melatonin