Melatonin administration significantly reduces the apoptotic index occurring after acute unilateral ureteral obstruction. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Melatonin protects kidney against apoptosis induced by acute unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats.
Cent European J Urol. 2016 ;69(2):225-30. Epub 2016 Jun 20. PMID: 27551563
Mehmet Erol Yildirim
INTRODUCTION: To investigate whether there was a protective effect of melatonin on apoptotic mechanisms after an acute unilateral obstruction of the kidney.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 25 rats consisting of five groups were used in the study, designated as follows: Group 1: control, Group 2: sham, Group 3: unilateral ureteral obstruction treated with only saline, Group 4: unilateral ureteral obstruction treated with melatonin immediately, and Group 5: unilateral obstruction treated with melatonin one day after obstruction. Melatonin was administered as a 10 mg/kg dose intraperitoneally. The kidneys were evaluated according to the apoptotic index and Ki-67 scores.
RESULTS: Comparison of all obstruction groups (Group 3, 4, and 5), revealed that the apoptotic index was significantly higher in Groups 1 and 2. Despite melatonin reduced apoptotic mechanisms in Groups 4 and 5, there was no significant difference between Groups 4 and 5 in terms of the reduction of apoptosis. However, the reduction of apoptosis in the melatonin treated group did not decrease to the level of Groups 1 and 2.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite melatonin administration, which significantly reduces the apoptotic index occurring after acute unilateral ureteral obstruction, the present study did not observe a return to normal renal histology in the obstruction groups.