Radioprotective effect of melatonin on the cervical spinal cord in irradiated rats

It has been suggested that the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression plays an important role in radiation-induced injury to the spinal cord. This study assesses the radioprotective effects of N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine (melatonin) through its modulation of VEGF expression after...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cell journal (Yakhteh) 2013, Vol.14 (4), p.246-253
Main Authors: Haddadi, Gholamhassan, Shirazi, Alireza, Sepehrizadeh, Zargham, Mahdavi, Seied Rabie, Haddadi, Maryam
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Melatonin
Spinal Cord
VEGF
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Summary:It has been suggested that the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression plays an important role in radiation-induced injury to the spinal cord. This study assesses the radioprotective effects of N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine (melatonin) through its modulation of VEGF expression after localized irradiation of the cervical spinal cord. In this experimental study, we divided 192 male rats into four groups: 1. control (n=48); 2. rats that received an intraperitoneal (IP) injection of melatonin (n=48); 3. rats that received an IP injection of melatonin 30 minutes prior to cervical spinal cord gamma irradiation [dose: 22 Gy; (n=48)]; and 4. rats that received an IP injection of vehicle prior to spinal cord irradiation (n=48). The changes in VEGF expression were assessed using real-time RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Samples for light microscopy were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). The differences among the groups were analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test followed by Tukey's multiple comparisons test. Up-regulation of VEGF expression was observed from 8 to 22 weeks after irradiation (p
ISSN:2228-5806
2228-5814