title: The effect of melatonin on bacterial translocation following ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model of superior mesenteric artery occlusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute mesenteric ischemia is a life-threatening vascular emergency resulting in tissue destruction due to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Melatonin, the primary hormone of the pineal gland, is a powerful scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including the hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals, as well as singlet oxygen, and nitric oxide. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether melatonin prevents harmful effects of superior mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion on intestinal tissues in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were randomly divided into three groups, each having 10 animals. In group I, the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was isolated but not occluded. In group II and group III, the SMA was occluded immediately distal to the aorta for 60 minutes. After that, the clamp was removed and the reperfusion period began. In group III, 30 minutes before the start of reperfusion, 10 mg/kg melatonin was administered intraperitonally. All animals were sacrified 24 hours after reperfusion. Tissue samples were collected to evaluate the I/R-induced intestinal injury and bacterial translocation (BT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant increase in myeloperoxidase activity, malondialdehyde levels and in the incidence of bacterial translocation in group II, along with a decrease in glutathione levels. These investigated parameters were found to be normalized in melatonin treated animals (group III).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that melatonin prevents bacterial translocation while precluding the harmful effects of ischemia/reperfusion injury on intestinal tissues in a rat model of superior mesenteric artery occlusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. muratozban@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozban
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cagatay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nural
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cevahir
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cigdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yenisey
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Birsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulistan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gumrukcu
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Denizli State Hospital, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Berrin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation, International Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Berber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018988:Bacterial Translocation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior; D065666:Mesenteric Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D008641:Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion / Q000150:complications*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008550:Melatonin