Objectives: Investigating the ameliorative effects of melatonin on cytokine levels, apoptosis, and NF-κB immunoreactivity in rats with cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis.
Materials and methods: Thirthy-two Wistar Albino rats were divided into four groups: Control group which didn't undergo acute pancreatitis induction and was left without treatment, pancreatitis group in which the acute pancreatitis was induced by 2 successive intraperitoneal doses of cerulein at a 2-hour interval (50 µg/kg and then 25 µg/kg), melatonin-treated pancreatitis group which was intraperitoneally administrated with 50 mg/kg of melatonin, 30 min before each cerulein injection, and melatonin group which was intraperitoneally administrated with 2 successive doses of melatonin (50 mg/kg each) at a 2-hour interval. Pancreatic tissue and blood samples were taken from animals of all groups. IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 levels were determined in blood samples. Apoptosis was determined by the TUNEL assay and the NF-κB was detected immunohistochemically in acinar cells of the exocrine pancreatic portion.
Results: IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 levels in the acute pancreatitis group were significantly increased when compared to the control negative group. IL-1β and TNF-α levels in the melatonin-treated pancreatitis group were significantly lower than those of the acute pancreatitis group. While number of apoptotic cells and percentage of NF-κB immunopositive cells in the acute pancreatitis group were significantly increased compared to other groups and it was observed that these parameters were significantly reduced in the melatonin-treated pancreatitis group compared to the acute pancreatitis group.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that melatonin administration can significantly reduce the severity of acute pancreatitis in rats.
Keywords: Acute pancreatitis; Apoptosis; Cytokine; Melatonin; NF-κB.