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Melatonin attenuates L‐cysteine‐induced seizures and lipid peroxidation in the brain of mice
Author(s) -
Yamamoto Hiroaki,
Tang Haiwang
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-079x.1996.tb00277.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , lipid peroxidation , cysteine , free radical scavenger , endocrinology , chemistry , medicine , ratón , pharmacology , oxidative stress , biochemistry , enzyme
The effect of melatonin, a potent free radical scavenger, on L‐cysteine‐induced seizures and lipid peroxidation was investigated in mice. When L‐cysteine (1.25, or 5.0 μmol/animal) was injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) into mice, severe tonic seizures were observed for over 20 sec in 75% and 100% of the treated mice, respectively. However, when melatonin (20 or 100 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously (sc) into mice 15 min before L‐cysteine injection (1.25 umol/animal, i.c.v.), the incidence of seizures was observed in only 35% and 20% of the treated mice, respectively. Furthermore, when L‐cysteine (1.25 or 5.0 (amol/animal, i.c.v.) was injected into mice, lipid peroxidation in whole brain 20 min after injection was significantly increased by 56% or 67% as compared to that of the control. However, when the seizures induced by L‐cysteine (1.25 μmol/animal) were abolished by preadminstration of melatonin, the increased lipid peroxidation induced by L‐cysteine was prevented. These results suggest that there may be a positive correlation between free radical formation and seizures induced by L‐cysteine and that melatonin affords protection against the seizures as well as against the associated lipid peroxidation.