The effects of melatonin on spinal cord injury

THE EFFECTS OF MELATONIN ON SPINAL CORD INJURYAYHAN KORKMAZSUMMARYWhen blood flow is not enough for cellular functions ischemia occurs.Reperfusion of ischemic tissue, recover some of lost functions during ischemia andcauses big damage in ischemic tissues especially by means of free oxygen radicals.Melatonin activates enzymatic antioxidants and show synergic effects withknown as antioxidants which are vitamin E, C, gluthatione to scavenge free radicals.According to these informations, in our study we investigate the effect of melatonin onspinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury.In the present study 30 White New Zealand male rabbits weighing 2-2,5 kgwere used. 30 rabbits were divided into three groups (each containing 10). These groupsare 1- Control, 2- schemia-Reperfusion, 3- Treatment groups. In control group onlynormal surgery procedure is applied. In ischemia-reperfusion and treatment group,surgery procedure and clip is applied on the abdominal aorta which is below the leftrenal artery exit. Before ischemia 10 mg/kg one dose intra venose melatonin was given totreatment group. After 48 hours, blood and tissues samples are taken from subjects. Thelevels of malondialdehyde, gluthathione, nitric oxide are measured using biochemicalmethods. The measurement results are correlated with the results obtained fromhistological and neurological investigations. The differences are determined by usingMann Whitney U test.Melatonin treatment decreases the malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levelswhich increase in ischemia-reperfusion group (p<0,05). The findings obtained fromhistological and neurological inspections support the melatonin protective effects.As a result, melatonin has a protective effect on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury. Also, it protects from oxidative stress.