Yağdan zengin diyetle oluşturulan deneysel nonalkolik steatohepatit tedavisinde melatoninin rolü

The aim of this study was to investigate to the therapeutic effect of administration of melatonin in the experimental nonalcoholic steatohepatitis model induced by high fat diet (HFD). Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four equal groups randomly. First group received only standard rat diet (control group). Groups 2, 3 and 4 were given HFD ad libitum. After the six weeks, 10 mg/kg/day ve 50 mg/kg/day melatonin was administered intraperitoneally to the group 3 and 4 (respectively). After eight weeks all rats were killed. Serum biochemistry, tumor necrosis factor ? (TNF-?), plasma and liver tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione levels were analyzed. Histopathologically; steatosis, ballooning degeneration, inflammation and fibrosis were scored. Immunohistochemical staining was done for CYP2E1 and ?-sMA expression. All rat developed NASH feed by HFD. Oxidative stress, CYP 2E1 and ?- sMA expression, insulin resistance and serum TNF-? levels were increased in rats with steatohepatitis. Melatonin was effective in reducing hepatic steatosis and inflammation with lowering serum alanine aminotransferase. CYP 2E1 expression, liver MDA level, insulin resistance and serum TNF-? level were decreased by administration of melatonin. Glutathione levels were increased by administration of melatonin. ?-sMA expression were decreased only by administration of 50 mg/kg dose of melatonin.This study shows that melatonin was effective in the treatment of steatohepatitis. The administration of 50 mg/kg dose of melatonin seems to more beneficial.