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Regulation of prostaglandin production in carrageenan‐induced pleurisy melatonin
Author(s) -
Cuzzocrea Salvatore,
Costantino Giuseppina,
Mazzon Emanuela,
Caputi Achille P.
Publication year - 1999
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.1999.tb00591.x
Subject(s) - carrageenan , melatonin , pleurisy , inflammation , prostaglandin , cyclooxygenase , prostaglandin e , exudate , prostaglandin e2 , pharmacology , medicine , chemistry , endocrinology , biochemistry , enzyme , pleural effusion , pathology
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of melatonin on the production of the inflammatory mediator prostaglandins in a model of acute inflammation, carrageenan‐induced pleurisy, where prostaglandins are known to play a crucial role. The results show that melatonin (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, 15 min before the carrageenan) inhibits the inflammatory response (pleural exudate formation, polymorphonuclear cell infiltration, and prostaglandin production) in a dose‐dependent manner. Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated a marked increase in the immunoreactivity to cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) in the lungs of carrageenan‐treated rats. Pretreatment of carrageenan‐treated rats with melatonin (50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, 15 min before the carrageenan) prevented COX‐2 expression. The present results demonstrate that melatonin exerts potent anti‐inflammatory effects. Part of these anti‐inflammatory effects may be related to a reduction of prostaglandin production during the inflammatory process.