Potent protective effects of isoproterenol stimulating secreted melatonin on experimental spinal cord injury in rat

Abstract

Melatonin is known as a potent natural antioxidant, which is synthesized from Tryptophan in the pineal gland. Serotonin N-acetyl transferase enzyme is the basic and rate-limiting factor in melatonin biosynthesis. The purpose of this study is the evaluation of the sympathomimetic drug effect of secreted melatonin in experimental injuries of the rat spinal cord. Forty-eight male Wistar male rats with a mean weight of 250 to 300g were used for the study. The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. In the first (control) group, laminectomy and drug (isoproterenol) injection was not performed. In the second group, only laminectomy was performed. In the third group, laminectomy and drug injection without spinal cord trauma was performed. In the fourth group, laminectomy and spinal cord trauma was performed without drug injection. In the fifth group, after laminectomy and spinal cord trauma, normal saline was injected. In the sixth group, after laminectomy and spinal cord trauma, drug was injected 2 times. Blood melatonin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. -SH groups, malondialdehyde, and 8-0HdG were measured. Deoxyribonucleic acid damage, -SH groups, malondialdehyde, and melatonin level comparison between laminectomy +trauma and laminectomy+ trauma +drug groups showed meaningful differences (P = 0.01, 0.01, and < 0.001). The results of this study suggest that isoproterenol can decrease deoxyribonucleic acid, protein, and lipid damage in spinal cord trauma by increasing the secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland.