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The Effect of Melatonin on TNBS-Induced Colitis

Digestive Diseases and Sciences volume 51, pages 1538–1545 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis is a multifactorial inflammatory disease of the colon and rectum with an unknown etiology. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of melatonin administration on oxidative damage and apoptosis in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis. Rats were divided into four groups as follows: Group 1 (n=8)—TNBS colitis; Group 2 (n=8)—melatonin, 10 mg/kg/day ip, for 15 days in addition to TNBS; Group 3 (n=8)—melatonin alone, 10 mg/kg/day ip, for 15 days; and Group 4 (n=8)—isotonic saline solution, 1ml/rat ip, for 15 days (sham control group). Colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and glutathione (GSH) levels are indicators of oxidative damage, while caspase-3 activities reveal the degree of apoptosis of the colonic tissue. In all TNBS-treated rats, colonic MPO activity and MDA levels were found to be increased significantly compared to those in the sham group. Colonic MPO activity and MDA levels were significantly lower in the melatonin treatment group compared to TNBS-treated rats. GSH levels of colonic tissues were found to be significantly lower in TNBS-treated rats compared to the sham group. Treatment with melatonin significantly increased GSH levels compared to those in TNBS-treated rats. Caspas-3 activity of colonic tissues was found to be significantly higher in TNBS-treated rats compared to the sham group. Treatment with melatonin significantly decreased caspase-3 activity compared to that in TNBS-treated rats. These results imply a reduction in mucosal damage due to anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of melatonin.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, 34340 Capa, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ahmet Necefli, Burcu Tulumoğlu, Umut Barbaros, Mücteba Gündüz & Recep Güloğlu

  2. Departments of Biochemistry, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Murat Giriş & Gülçin Toker

  3. Departments of Oncologic Pathology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Vakur Olgaç

Authors
  1. Ahmet Necefli
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  2. Burcu Tulumoğlu
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Correspondence to Burcu Tulumoğlu.

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Necefli, A., Tulumoğlu, B., Giriş, M. et al. The Effect of Melatonin on TNBS-Induced Colitis. Dig Dis Sci 51, 1538–1545 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-005-9047-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-005-9047-3

Keywords

  • Melatonin
  • 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis
  • Apoptosis
  • NFκ-B