The effects of melatonine on the levels of NOx, MDA, GSH in the pancreatic tissue during the aging process

In this experimental study we planned to investigate the effects of melatonin (10 mg/ kg sc 7 day) on the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) , nitric oxide (NOx) and glutathione (GSH) of pancreas tissues of young (4 months, n=16) and middle aged (14 months, n=20) rats. There were significant differences in the MDA levels of pancreas tissues between the control groups of young (n=8) and middle aged (n=10) rats (2.64±0.2 nmol/g, 5.47±0.9 nmol/g respectively p= 0.03). NOx and GSH levels the pancreas tissues were not significantly different in the control groups of young and middle aged rats. There were significant differences in the GSH levels of pancreas tissues between the melatonin groups of young (n=8) when compared to control group (1.08±0.07 mikromol/g, 1.33±0.08 mikromol/g respectively p= 0.04). NOx and MDA level of the pancreas tissues were not significantly different melatonin groups of young (n=8) when compared to control groups. While pancreas tissues NOx level were significantly lower (31.4±4.0 mikromol/g, 51.4±6.3 mikromol/g respectively p= 0.02) and GSH level were significantly high (1.99 ±0.07mikromol/g, 1.03±0.07 mikromol/g respectively p= 0.0001); in the melatonin group of middle aged rats when compared to control group. The MDA level of pancreas tissues were not significantly different in melatonin groups of middle-aged when compared to control groups. In conclusion, our results suggest that aging may be related with an increase in free radicals and a decrease in the antioxidant capacity of the tissues and exogenous melatonin may play a role in aging by means of its action on free radicals.