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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 28, 2008; 14(48): 7392-7396
Published online Dec 28, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.7392
Melatonin protects liver from intestine ischemia reperfusion injury in rats
Jian-Yi Li, Hong-Zhuan Yin, Xi Gu, Yong Zhou, Wen-Hai Zhang, Yi-Min Qin
Jian-Yi Li, Xi Gu, Wen-Hai Zhang, The Fifth Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
Hong-Zhuan Yin, The Second Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
Yong Zhou, The Sixth Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
Yi-Min Qin, Department of General Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Shenyang, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
Author contributions: Li JY and Zhang WH contributed equally to this work; Li JY, Zhang WH, Yin HZ, Gu X, and Zhou Y designed the research; Li JY, Yin HZ, Gu X, Zhou Y, and Qin YM performed the research; Yin HZ provided the analytic tools; Li JY, Yin HZ, Gu X, and Zhou Y analyzed the data; Li JY, Yin HZ and Zhang WH wrote the paper.
Supported by The Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province, No. 20042064
Correspondence to: Dr. Wen-Hai Zhang, Department Five of General Surgery, The Shengjing Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China. zhangwh@sj-hospital.org
Telephone: +86-24-83955232
Received: November 17, 2007
Revised: February 15, 2008
Accepted: February 22, 2008
Published online: December 28, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of melatonin on liver after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

METHODS: One hundred and fifty male Wistar rats, weighing 190-210 g, aged 7 wk, were randomly divided into melatonin exposure group, alcohol solvent control group and normal saline control group. Rats in the melatonin exposure group received intraperitoneal (IP) melatonin (20 mg/kg) 30 min before intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR), rats in the alcohol solvent control group received the same concentration and volume of alcohol, and rats in the normal saline control group received the same volume of normal saline. Serum samples were collected from each group 0.5, 1, 6, 12, and 24 h after intestinal IR. Levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured with an auto-biochemical analyzer. Serum TNF-α was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver was detected by colorimetric assay. Pathological changes in liver and immunohistochemical straining of ICAM-1 were observed under an optical microscope.

RESULTS: The levels of ALT measured at various time points after intestinal IR in the melatonin exposure group were significantly lower than those in the other two control groups (P < 0.05). The serum AST levels 12 and 24 h after intestinal IR and the ICAM-1 levels (%) 6, 12 and 24 h after intestinal IR in the melatonin exposure group were also significantly lower than those in the other two control groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Exotic melatonin can inhibit the activity of ALT, AST and TNF-α, decrease the accumulation of MDA, and depress the expression of ICAM-1 in liver after intestinal IR injury, thus improving the liver function.

Keywords: Melatonin; Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury; Liver; TNF-α