This study investigated the synergistic protective effects of melatonin (MEL) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C, ASA) in treating sepsis‐induced lung injury in rats. Rats were divided into five groups: control, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), CLP + MEL, CLP + ASA and CLP + MEL + ASA. The effects of MEL (10 mg/kg), ASA (100 mg/kg) and their combination on oxidative stress, inflammation and histopathology were evaluated in septic rats’ lung tissues. Sepsis‐induced oxidative stress and inflammation were evident through increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI); decreased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx); and elevated levels of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐1 β (IL‐1β) in the lung tissue. Treatment with MEL, ASA and their combination significantly improved antioxidant capacity and reduced oxidative stress, with the combination treatment being more effective. The combination treatment also significantly reduced TNF‐α and IL‐1β levels and improved peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR), arylesterase (ARE) and paraoxonase (PON) levels in the lung tissue. Histopathological examination showed reduced oedema and lymphocyte infiltration with a lung tissue appearance similar to the control group. Immunohistochemical staining for caspase 3 demonstrated reduced immune positivity in the treatment groups. In conclusion, this study supports the potential synergistic protective effects of MEL and ASA in treating sepsis‐induced lung injury. The combination therapy could effectively reduce oxidative stress, inflammation and improve antioxidant capacity in septic rats, suggesting a promising strategy for treating sepsis‐induced lung injury.
Objective: The goal of this study was to examine the effect of in vivo melatonin (MEL) administration on isolated thoracic aorta in rats with thyroxine treatment and its duty in aortic response to contractile agents, such as potassium chloride (KCl) and phenylephrine (PE). In addition, immunohistological alterations were also examined.
Methods: Experimental groups were as follows: control group (n= 5), thyroxine group (n= 5), melatonin group (n= 6), and thyroxine + melatonin group (n= 6). L-thyroxine was given by intraperitoneal (i.p) administration at 0.3 mg/kg/day for 14 days. MEL was administered i.p., at 3 mg/kg/day for 14 days. The thoracic aorta was isolated from rats euthanized by cervical dislocation. Then, vascular rings were prepared.
Concentration-response curves for KCl and PE applications were recorded in an isolated organ bath. Tissue samples were fixed in 10% formalin for histopathological and immunohistological evaluation.
Results: KCl and PE-induced contractions were reduced significantly in the thoracic aortic rings of the thyroxine-treated rats. MEL administration partially attenuated the reduction in the contraction responses due to thyroxine treatment. Immunohistological findings showed that MEL inhibits the thickening of the vessel wall by probably suppressing collagen formation due to thyroxine treatment in the aortic tissue.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that MEL may attenuate the decrease in vascular resistance caused by thyroxine treatment.
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