Melatonin protects against streptozotocin-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy by the phosphorylation of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A)

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate if the melatonin has any protective effect on diabetic cardiomyopathy and antioxidant enzymes via phosphorylation of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). A total of 40 male Wistar rats were enrolled in the study. Rats were divided into four groups: group 1 (control, n=10), group 2 (DM, n=10), group 3 (melatonin, n=10), and group 4 (melatonin+DM, n=10). Melatonin was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day for 56 days to group 3 and group 4. We investigated expression and phosphorylation of the VEGF-A in coronary vessels of all groups. Staining intensities, biochemical, immunohistochemistry analysis, and transthoracic echocardiography were performed. In comparison to the group 1, DM induced a decrease in p-VEGF-A in coronary vessels of group 2. The lower constitutive phosphorylation of VEGF-A in the group 2 was also increased in coronary vessels after melatonin treatment (p<0.05). Diabetic rats developed myocardial hypertrophy with preserved cardiac function (p<0.05). Cardio-protective effect of melatonin may reduce the damages of diabetes mellitus on the heart muscle fibers and coronary vessels via the phosphorylation of VEGF-A. Melatonin-dependent phosphorylation of VEGF-A in coronary angiogenesis may be associated with the physiological as well as with the pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Therapeutic effect of melatonin-loaded chitosan/lecithin nanoparticles on hyperglycemia and pancreatic beta cells regeneration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

“…Moreover, melatonin administration reduced insulin resistance and blood glucose level in high fat diet diabetic mice according to Sartori et al 17 . At night, individuals with type II diabetes release less melatonin than healthy individuals 18 . The studies of Heo et al 19 and Xu et al 20 showed that one dose of melatonin modified the glucose tolerance test in healthy pre-menopausal and post-menopausal females.…”

Melatonin alleviates cardiac fibrosis via inhibiting lncRNA MALAT1/miR‐141‐mediated NLRP3 inflammasome and TGF‐β1/Smads signaling in diabetic cardiomyopathy

“…Melatonin has been considered as a potential therapeutic agent for DCM because of its diverse beneficial actions. For example, melatonin can elicit an antioxidative stress action via decreasing mTOR level or increasing vascular endothelial growth factor‐A (VEGF‐A) phosphorylation in rats with DCM . Wang et al reported that melatonin can improve mitophagy activity via suppressing Mst1 in DCM .…”

“…For example, melatonin can elicit an antioxidative stress action via decreasing mTOR level or increasing vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) phosphorylation in rats with DCM. 36,37 Wang et al reported that melatonin can improve mitophagy activity via suppressing Mst1 in DCM. 38 Melatonin treatment alleviates cardiac function through inhibition of Syk-mitochondrial complex I-SERCA axis.…”

Melatonin promotes gut anti-oxidative status in perinatal rat by remodeling the gut microbiome

“…Ctr group: pregnant rats received a basal diet and normal drinking water. Mel group: pregnant rats received a basal diet, normal drinking water and melatonin by oral gavage (50 mg/kg/day [ [26] , [27] , [28] ]; M5250, Sigma, MO, USA). FMT group: pregnant rats received a basal diet, normal drinking water and fecal suspension by oral gavage (0.005 ml/g/day [ 29 ]; see 2.3 FMT for production of fecal suspension).…”