ABSTRACT
Sleep deprivation can lead to various alterations at physiological and psychological levels such as EEG changes, metabolic changes, irritation, blurred vision, memory lapses, hallucinations, psychosis and can even lead to death. Treatment still remains a challenge as hypnotics are associated with side effects. The objective of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of melatonin and buspirone and their combinations against the biochemical and behavioral alterations induced by 48 hrs sleep deprivation in mice. Pretreatment with melatonin (2.5 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg), buspirone (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg), and melatonin (2.5, 5 mg/kg) in combination with buspirone (5 mg/kg) showed significant improvement in behavioral parameters such as increase in body weight, increase in locomotor activity, and reduction in anxiety like behavior. Biochemical parameters estimation also revealed similar results such as significant attenuation of lipid peroxidation and nitrite concentration and significant elevation of glutathione and catalase levels following treatment with melatonin (2.5, 5 mg/kg) and buspirone (5,10 mg/kg) and melatonin (2.5, 5 mg/kg) in combination with buspirone (5 mg/kg) as compared to their effect per se. Thus, preliminary findings suggest the protective effect of melatonin and buspirone and their combinations against sleep deprivation and associated alterations.
ABSTRACT
Developing a successful treatment strategy for neuropathic pain has remained a challenge among researcher and clinicians. Various animal models have been employed to understand the pathogenic mechanism of neuropathic pain in experimental animals. The present study was designed to explore the possible nitric oxide mechanism in the protective effect of melatonin against chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve in rats. Following chronic constriction injury, various behavioral tests (thermal hyperalgesia, cold allodynia) and biochemical parameters (lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, catalase, and nitrite) were assessed in sciatic nerves. Drugs were administered for 21 consecutive days from the day of surgery. CCI significantly caused thermal hyperalgesia, cold allodynia and oxidative damage. Chronic administration of melatonin (2.5 or 5 mg/kg, ip) significantly attenuated hyperalgesia, cold allodynia and oxidative damage in sciatic nerves as compared to CCI group. Further, L-NAME (5 mg/kg) pretreatment with sub-effective dose of melatonin (2.5 mg/kg, ip) significantly potentiated melatonin’s protective effect which was significant as compared to their individual effect per se. However, L-arginine (100 mg/kg) pretreatment with melatonin (2.5 mg/kg, ip) significantly reversed its protective effects. Results of the present study suggest the involvement of nitric oxide pathway in the protective effect of melatonin against CCI-induced behavioral and biochemical alterations in rats.
ABSTRACT
Sleep disruption involves extensive changes in physiological function, including EEG, motor, metabolic, autonomic processes physiological homeostasis and psychological balance that are necessary for physical health. Benzodiazepines are the most widely used drugs for the sleep related problems in spite of their limitations and side effects. Objective of the study was to investigate the protective effect of W. somnifera on the behavioral and biochemical alterations in sleep disturbed mice. Pretreatment with W. somnifera root extract (100. 200 mg/kg) and diazepam (0.5 mg/kg) significantly protected reduction in body weight, improved the reduced locomotor activity and anxiety levels in animals. Biochemical studies also revealed that W. somnifera (100 and 200 mg/kg) and diazepam (0.5 mg/kg) pretreatment for five days decreased significantly lipid peroxidation, nitrites levels and improved catalase, and reduced glutathione levels. Co-administration of W. somnifera (100 mg/kg) with diazepam (0.5 mg/kg) improved significantly all the biochemical parameters as compared to their effect per se. Preliminary results suggest that Withania root extract can be used in the management sleep loss and associated oxidative stress.