Rcg. Carneiro et Rj. Reiter, MELATONIN PROTECTS AGAINST LIPID-PEROXIDATION INDUCED BY DELTA-AMINOLEVULINIC-ACID IN RAT CEREBELLUM, CORTEX AND HIPPOCAMPUS, Neuroscience, 82(1), 1998, pp. 293-299
The in vitro and in vivo effect of melatonin on delta-aminolevulinic a
cid-induced lipid peroxidation in rat cerebellum cortex and hipppocamp
us was determined. The concentration of malonaldehyde and 4-hydroxyalk
enals was assayed as an index of induced membrane oxidative damage. Th
e rise in malonaldehyde+4-hydroxyalkenals concentrations induced by de
lta-aminolevulinic acid in cerebellar homogenates was concentration-de
pendent (P<0.001) and also time-dependent in cerebellar, cortical and
hippocampal homogenates (P<0.01). In vitro melatonin and vitamin E pro
tected, in a concentration-dependent manner, against delta-aminolevuli
nic acid-induced lipid peroxidation in cortical, cerebellar and hippoc
ampal homogenates In in vivo experiments it was demonstrated that delt
a-aminolevulinic acid-induced lipid peroxidation (40 mg/kg) in cerebel
lum and hippocampus was reduced by acute melatonin (10 mg/kg) treatmen
t (P<0.05). The results show that both in vitro and in vivo melatonin
confers protection against delta-aminolevulinic acid-induced oxidative
toxicity in brain regions. The findings suggest that melatonin may be
useful in reducing neural damage in individuals suffering from acute
intermittent porphyria. (C) 1997 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Science L
td.