Melatonin protects against oxidative mitochondrial damage induced in rat placenta by ischemia and reperfusion.

Abstract

We assessed the effects of melatonin, a powerful scavenger of oxygen free radicals, on ischemia/reperfusion-induced oxidative damage to mitochondria in the rat placenta. In Wistar rats at day 19 of pregnancy, feto-placental ischemia was induced by occluding both utero-ovarian arteries for 20 min. Reperfusion was achieved by releasing the occlusion and restoring circulation for 30 min. Melatonin solution or the vehicle alone was injected intraperitoneally at dose of 10 mg/kg 1 hr before occlusion. Sham-ischemic animals were treated with vehicle. Each group consisted of 10 pregnant rats. We measured placental mitochondrial respiratory control index (RCI; a marker of mitochondrial respiratory activity), the ratio of the added adenosine 5-diphosphate (ADP) concentration to consumption of oxygen during state 3 respiration (ADP/O), and the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in each group. RCI and ADP/O were significantly decreased by ischemia/reperfusion, while TBARS were increased. Melatonin prevented these changes. These results indicate that exogenous melatonin protects against ischemia/reperfusion-induced oxidative damage to mitochondria in rat placenta. Melatonin could be useful in treating preeclampsia and possibly other clinical states involving excess free radical production, such as fetal growth restriction and fetal hypoxia.

• Authors: Y Okatani, A Wakatsuki, K Shinohara, K Taniguchi, T Fukaya
• Journal: Journal of pineal research (J Pineal Res) Vol. 31 Issue 2 Pg. 173-8 (Sep 2001) ISSN: 0742-3098 [Print] England
• PMID: 11555174 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
• Adenosine Diphosphate
• Melatonin

Topics

• Adenosine Diphosphate (metabolism)
• Animals
• Female
• Fetal Growth Retardation (drug therapy, etiology, prevention & control)
• Humans
• Melatonin (pharmacology)
• Mitochondria (drug effects, metabolism)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Oxygen Consumption (drug effects)
• Placenta (drug effects, injuries, metabolism)
• Pre-Eclampsia (drug therapy, etiology, prevention & control)
• Pregnancy
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Reperfusion Injury (metabolism, prevention & control)
• Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (metabolism)