Metabolic footprint in young, middle-aged and elderly rats with melatonin deficit

•Pinealectomy in rats represents a relevant model for the evaluation of aging.•It impairs physiological, metabolic, and biochemical markers in young adult rats.•Melatonin deficit doesn't affect aging markers in older rats. The pineal gland is suggested to be an essential area involved in the pr...

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Published in:Physiology & behavior 2022-06, Vol.250, p.113786-113786, Article 113786
Main Authors: Tchekalarova, Jana, Hrischev, Petar, Ivanova, Petya, Boyadjiev, Nikolai, Georgieva, Katerina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Animals
Mammals
Melatonin - metabolism
Metabolic and physiological parameters
Oxidative Stress
Physical Conditioning, Animal
Pineal Gland - physiology
Pineal Gland - surgery
Pinealectomy
Rat
Rats
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Summary:•Pinealectomy in rats represents a relevant model for the evaluation of aging.•It impairs physiological, metabolic, and biochemical markers in young adult rats.•Melatonin deficit doesn't affect aging markers in older rats. The pineal gland is suggested to be an essential area involved in the programming of fertility, growth, aging, and death of mammals via the released hormone melatonin.The present study aimed to ascertain the effect of melatonin deficit on several physiological and metabolic parameters, closely associated with the aging process, at certain stages of ontogenesis. Sham and rats with pinealectomy, operated at ages 3, 14, and 18-months, respectively, were tested two months later. Sham rats demonstrated an age-related decline of muscle strength, exercise endurance, motor activity, food intake, calorimetric parameters, and impaired lipid profile. Pinealectomy reduced the maximal time to exhaustion and body weight gain while diminished motor activity, food intake, O2 consumption, CO2 production, and energy expenditure during the Dark phase in the youngest rat group. In addition, melatonin deficit elevated arterial blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure) and increased serum glucose and triglyceride level in 3-month-old rats while decreased the liver enzyme activity in 14-month-old rats. In conclusion, the present study brought new insights confirming the complex impact of melatonin deficit on important physiological, metabolic and biochemical markers related to aging and demonstrated for the first time that the lack of melatonin hormone is harmful in young adult rats. [Display omitted]
ISSN:0031-9384
1873-507X
DOI:10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113786