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Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 14, 2008; 14(6): 918-924
Published online Feb 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.918
Melatonin reduces bacterial translocation and apoptosis in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced colitis of rats
Alper Akcan, Can Kucuk, Erdogan Sozuer, Duygu Esel, Hizir Akyildiz, Hulya Akgun, Sabahattin Muhtaroglu, Yucel Aritas
Alper Akcan, Can Kucuk, Erdogan Sozuer, Hizir Akyildiz, Yucel Aritas, Department of Surgery, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri 38039, Turkey
Duygu Esel, Department of Microbiology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri 38039, Turkey
Hulya Akgun, Department of Pathology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri 38039, Turkey
Sabahattin Muhtaroglu, Department of Biochemistry, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri 38039, Turkey
Correspondence to: Alper Akcan, MD, Department of General Surgery, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri 38039, Turkey. acakcan2002@yahoo.com
Telephone: +90-533-7430357
Fax: +90-352-4375273
Received: October 15, 2007
Revised: December 17, 2007
Published online: February 14, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effects of exogenous melatonin on bacterial translocation and apoptosis in a rat ulcerative colitis model.

METHODS: Rats were randomly assigned to three groups: groupI: control, group II: experimental colitis, group III: colitis plus melatonin treatment. On d 11 after colitis, plasma tumor necrosis factor-α, portal blood endotoxin levels, colon tissue myeloperoxidase and caspase-3 activity were measured. Bacterial translocation was quantified by blood, lymph node, liver and spleen culture.

RESULTS: We observed a significantly reduced incidence of bacterial translocation to the liver, spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, portal and systemic blood in animals treated with melatonin. Treatment with melatonin significantly decreased the caspase-3 activity in colonic tissues compared to that in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid- treated rats (16.11 ± 2.46 vs 32.97 ± 3.91, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Melatonin has a protective effect on bacterial translocation and apoptosis.

Keywords: Melatonin, Colitis, Bacterial translocation, Apoptosis