Effect of melatonin on the inflammatory factors in serum of rats with endotoxemia

Objective To investigate the influence of melatonin (MT) on the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α),interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) in serum of rats with endotoxemia.Methods 48 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups:solvent control group,LPS group (LPS 4mg/kg,i.p.),LPS+MT group (MT 5mg/ml,i.p.),with 12 rats in each group.The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected,and the levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-10 were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results The activity of SOD in serum in LPS +MT group was significantly increased,as compared with that in LPS group (P0.01),however,the content of MDA in LPS +MT group was significantly decreased,as compared with that in LPS group (P0.01).The levels of serum TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly increased in LPS groups,as compared with those in solvent control group(P0.01).However the MT intervention after treatment with LPS could obviously reduce the contents of TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS+MT group,as compared with those in LPS group in the same time point(P0.01).Conclusion MT can reduce the levels of inflammatory factors in serum of rats with endotoxemia.