Melatonin counteracts lipid peroxidation induced by carbon tetrachloride but does not restore glucose‐6 phosphatase activity

Abstract

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) exerts its toxic effects by the generation of free radicals. In this study we investigated whether melatonin, a potent free radical scavenger, could prevent the deleterious effects of CCl4. Liver homogenates and liver microsomes were incubated with CCl4 in the presence of melatonin and lipid peroxidation and glucose-6 phosphatase (G6Pase) activity were determined. All doses of CCl4 (1, 0.5, 0.1 mM) produced significantly high levels of lipid peroxidation, as reflected by increased levels of malonaldehyde and 4-hydroxyalkenals, in both liver homogenates and liver microsomes. These doses of CCl4 concommitantly reduced the activity of microsomal G6Pase. Co-incubation with melatonin dose-dependently (2, 1, 0.5 mM) inhibited the production of lipid peroxidation, but it was unable to restore the activity of G6Pase. In in vivo studies, rats were also treated with melatonin (10 mg/kg, i.p.), given 30 min before and 60 min after the administration of CCl4 (5 ml/kg, i.p.). Significantly elevated levels of lipid peroxidation were measured in the liver and kidney. Melatonin prevented the CCl4-induced lipid peroxidation in the kidney, but not in the liver. These data suggest that melatonin may provide protection against some of the damaging effects of CCl4, possibly due to its ability to scavenge toxic free radicals.

Effect of antioxidant treatments on nitrate tolerance development in normotensive and hypertensive rats

“…Although a higher oxidative stress was postulated in SHR, SHR showed plasma malondialdehyde levels comparable to their WKY counterparts in our study. Other investigators have reported similar basal levels of malondialdehyde in SHR and WKY tissues [38], although increased lipid peroxidation in plasma and vascular intima was observed in SHR [39]. Some methodological and biological factors could explain these apparent contradictions in SHR.…”

Protective effects of melatonin against carbon tetrachloride‐induced hepatotoxicity in rats: a light microscopic and biochemical study

“…[11][12][13][14][15][16][17] It has also been shown that when animals and tissues are subjected to lipid peroxidation, melatonin gives a substantial protection against the oxidative destruction of lipids. [18][19][20] The aim of this study was to examine the protective effects of melatonin against CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity in rats at biochemical and histological levels.…”

Melatonin Inhibits Benzene-Induced Lipid Peroxidation in Rat Liver

“…Melatonin is well known to scavenge oxygenfree radicals and to inhibit, in vitro and in vivo, lipid peroxidation generated by ethyl alcohol (36), carbon tetrachloride (37), and paraquat (38). This is the fi rst report that shows that melatonin also inhibits…”