Schizophrenia-like behavior is not altered by melatonin supplementation in rodents

Abstract

An emerging area in schizophrenia research focuses on the impact of immunomodulatory drugs such as melatonin, which have played important roles in many biological systems and functions, and appears to be promising. The objective was to evaluate the effect of melatonin on behavioral parameters in an animal model of schizophrenia. For this, Wistar rats were divided and used in two different protocols. In the prevention protocol, the animals received 1 or 10mg/kg of melatonin or water for 14 days, and between the 8th and 14th day they received ketamine or saline. In the reversal protocol, the opposite occurred. On the 14th day, the animals underwent behavioral tests: locomotor activity and prepulse inhibition task. In both protocols, the results revealed that ketamine had effects on locomotor activity and prepulse inhibition, confirming the validity of ketamine construction as a good animal model of schizophrenia. However, at least at the doses used, melatonin was not able to reverse/prevent ketamine damage. More studies are necessary to evaluate the role of melatonin as an adjuvant treatment in psychiatric disorders.

Systematic Review of the Therapeutic Role of Apoptotic Inhibitors in Neurodegeneration and Their Potential Use in Schizophrenia

“…Melatonin has been reported both as a surrogate marker and therapeutic agent in SZ [ 124 ]. SZ-like behavior was reported to be unchanged by melatonin supplementation in rodents [ 125 ], whereas other studies report attenuation of SZ-like symptoms and a protective effect on the prefrontal cortex region of brain by mitigating the alteration of neurotoxicity markers [ 126 ]. Another double-hit compound in SZ, considered both a surrogate marker and a therapeutic approach, is retinoic acid [ 127 ].…”

“…Controversial data regarding minocycline administration extends to other molecules with anti-apoptotic properties in SZ. SZ-like behavior was not altered by melatonin supplementation in rodents [ 125 ]. However this compound has been reported to improve sleep disturbance, antipsychotic side effects and benzodiazepine discontinuation in SZ [ 124 ].…”

Hormone Targets for the Treatment of Sleep Disorders in Postmenopausal Women with Schizophrenia: A Narrative Review

“…Melatonin treatment attenuated the schizophrenia-like symptoms in the mice and reduced the histopathological alterations [ 49 ]. Melatonin was particularly correlated with an attenuation of behavioral deficits and a reduction in the brain oxidative stress in a rodent model of schizophrenia [ 50 ], while other authors have reported contrary findings [ 51 ]. Furthermore, the coadministation of melatonin has been associated with improvements in the olanzapine-induced metabolic effects [ 52 ].…”