Antagonistic effect of melatonin against cyanide-induced seizures and acute lethality in mice.

Abstract

The effect of melatonin on potassium cyanide-induced neurotoxicity was investigated in vivo. The ED50 value of potassium cyanide, as measured by induction of tonic and clonic seizures, was significantly increased by 1.5- or 1.8-fold by s.c. preinjection of melatonin (20, 100 or 345 mg/kg) in mice. The preventive effect of melatonin against potassium cyanide-induced seizures was dose dependent. The LD50 value of potassium cyanide, based on 24-h mortality, was also significantly increased by 1.3-fold by preinjection of melatonin. Potassium cyanide (8 mg/kg, s.c.) increased lipid peroxidation in whole brain of mice, and the increased lipid peroxidation was completely abolished when cyanide-induced seizures were stopped by preadministration of melatonin. These results suggest that melatonin, a pineal hormone, may protect against cyanide-induced neurotoxicity with its free radical scavenging effects in mice.

• Authors: H Yamamoto, H W Tang
• Journal: Toxicology letters (Toxicol Lett) Vol. 87 Issue 1 Pg. 19-24 (Sep 1996) ISSN: 0378-4274 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 8701440 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antidotes
• Melatonin
• Potassium Cyanide

Topics

• Animals
• Antidotes (therapeutic use)
• Brain (drug effects, metabolism)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Injections, Subcutaneous
• Lethal Dose 50
• Lipid Peroxidation (drug effects)
• Male
• Melatonin (therapeutic use)
• Mice
• Potassium Cyanide (administration & dosage, antagonists & inhibitors, toxicity)
• Seizures (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Survival Rate