Effect of melatonin and environmental stress on free radicals and antioxidant levels in rats which were made to exercise at differing room temperatures.

This study was carried out to examine the effect of melatonin and environmental stress on free radicals and antioxidant levels in rats which were made to exercise at differing room temperaturesThe study was performed upon 48 Spraque Dawley male rats of 250-300 gr. weight, aged 4-6 monthsThe rats were divided into 8 groups. Group 1: (the group made to have chronic exercise on treadmill in a laboratory at 10 oC). Group 2: (the group made to have chronic exercise on treadmill in a laboratory at 23 oC). Group 3: (the group made to have chronic exercise on treadmill in a laboratory at 37 oC). Group 4: ((the group made to have chronic exercise on treadmill with melatonin in a laboratory at 10 oC). Group 5: ((the group made to have chronic exercise on treadmill with melatonin in a laboratory at 23 oC). Group 6: ((the group made to have chronic exercise on treadmill with melatonin in a laboratory at 37 oC). Group 7: (The sedentary group with melatonin that was not made to have exercise at 23 oC). Group 8: (The sedentary group on which no application was employed, the control group). The groups which took melatonin were given the related substance 5 mg per day before the exercise for 4 weeks intraperitoneally5 to 7 cc blood was taken from the rats in the sedentary group before test, from the melatonin control group 1-1,5 hour after the application of melatonin, from the exercise and melatonin exercise groups after the training programmes 6 days a week for four weeks, from the exercise and melatonin groups after the exercise on treadmill at 23 oC). Blood samples were detected through Spectrophotometre (SOD,GR,POD,CAT) and HPLC (MDA) methods. In the statistical analyses Anova, Duncan and T test were usedGR level is higher in 10 OC exercise group compared to 10 oC melatonin group. MDA, GR levels are higher than those of 23 oC melatonin exercise groups. Serum MDA levels of the 37 oC exercise group are lower than those of 37 oC melatonin exercise group. Serum SOD levels are the same in 23 oC and 37 oC exercise groups, SOD levels of both of which are lower than those of the 10 oC exercise group. SOD levels in the control group and the other control group which took melatonin were significantly differentIt was found out in the study that oxidative stress appeared most in hypothermic environment, that melatonin did not prevent oxidative stress in hypothermic and hypermetric environment but that it activated antioxidant system and decreased emergence of free radicals at normal temperatures.