Melatonin influences antioxidant homeostasis and apoptosis regulation in central nervous system

摘要

Melatonin is hormone with strong antioxidant properties. It is produced in pineal gland and minor partof production lays also in some other tissues. As hormone, it is responsible for time cyclicity control; however,some other biological effects including cell cycle regulation are known. The present experiment is aimed atinvestigation of melatonin effect on low molecular weight antioxidants and caspase-3 activity in brain ofBALB/c mice. Animals received melatonin intramuscularly in doses 1 and 10 μg/kg and they were sacrificedone day after the exposure. Total level of low molecular weight antioxidants using ferric reducing antioxidantpower (FRAP) assay and caspase using spectrophotometric kit were assessed. Melatonin was proved to be ableto promote release of other endogenous low molecular weight antioxidants. The effect remains even in timewhen melatonin is replaced from the body. Increase of antioxidants level was significant for the both doses.Comparing to it, activation of caspase-3 activity was promoted in animals receiving the upper dose only. Effectof melatonin on basic oxidative homeostasis and cell cycle is discussed.