The effects of melatonin on the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and proteins, serotonin, cortisol and melatonin in ovariohysterectomised female dogs.

BACKGROUND: Ovariohysterectomy (OHE) induces inflammation and stress in female dogs. The anti-inflammatory effects of melatonin have been reported in several studies. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to assess the effects of melatonin on the concentrations of melatonin, cortisol, serotonin, α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), serum amyloid A (SAA), c-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) before and after OHE. METHODS: The total number of animals was 25 and aligned in 5 groups. Fifteen dogs were divided into three groups (n = 5): melatonin, melatonin+anaesthesia and melatonin+OHE and received melatonin (0.3 mg/kg, p.o.) on days -1, 0, 1, 2 and 3. Ten dogs were assigned to the control and OHE groups (n = 5) without melatonin treatment. OHE and anaesthesia were performed on day 0. Blood samples were obtained via jugular vein on days -1, 1, 3 and 5. RESULTS: Melatonin and serotonin concentrations significantly increased in the melatonin, melatonin+OHE and melatonin+anaesthesia groups compared with the control group, while cortisol concentration decreased in the melatonin+OHE group compared with the OHE group. The concentrations of acute-phase proteins (APPs) and inflammatory cytokines significantly increased after OHE. The CRP, SAA and IL-10 concentrations decreased significantly in the melatonin+OHE group compared with the OHE group. The concentrations of cortisol, APPs and proinflammatory cytokines increased significantly in the melatonin+anaesthesia group compared with the melatonin group. CONCLUSIONS: The oral administration of melatonin before and after OHE help controlling the high levels of inflammatory APPs, cytokines and cortisol induced by OHE in female dogs.

Effects of ethanolic extracts of Quercus, Cirsium vulgare, and Falcaria vulgaris on gastric ulcer, antioxidant and inflammatory indices, and gene expression in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Gastric ulcer is a multifaceted process and is usually caused by mucosal damage. Herbal medicines have received much attention considering the side effects of chemical drugs. Nowadays, the use of herbal medicines has received much attention considering the side effects of chemical drugs. Quercus brantii Lindl, Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten, and Falcaria vulgaris Bernh are plants used as traditional phytomedicine for gastric ulcer diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study was aimed to investigate the protective effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of these herbs on ethanol-induced gastric ulceration, in addition, to investigate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gene expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty Sprague Dawley rats, (200-250 g), were divided into six groups: Control: intact animals; sham: gavaged with distilled water (14 days); negative control: gavaged with 20 mg/kg of omeprazole (14 days); experimental groups I, II, and III: gavaged with 500 mg/kg of the extract of Falcaria vulgaris, Quercus brantii, and Cirsium vulgare, respectively, (14 days). The number of ulcers and pathological parameters were assessed. The serum superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, albumin, total protein, haptoglobin, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, total globulin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, C-fos, C-myc, and Caspase-9 were measured by ELISA and RT-PCR. RESULTS: The extracts significantly reduced gastric ulcer (52.33%). The results showed that the Quercus brantii extract was more effective. There were significant differences between the serum levels of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein and those of alpha-2-macroglobulin. Also, there was a significant difference in the serum level of antioxidant parameters. Changes in the expression of the genes also confirmed the results suggested by other parameters. The expression levels of C-fos, C-myc, and caspase-9 were decreased, but the Bcl-2 expression increased. CONCLUSION: The hydro-alcoholic extracts revealed various protection and noticeable change in the expression of caspase-9, C-myc, C-fos, and Bcl-2 genes in rats.

The effects of melatonin treatment on oxidative stress induced by ovariohysterectomy in dogs.

BACKGROUND: As one of the most common surgeries performed in veterinary medicine, ovariohysterectomy (OHE) can induce oxidative stress in dogs. The antioxidant properties of melatonin have been confirmed in various studies. This study aimed to investigate the effects of melatonin administration on oxidative stress in dogs before and after OHE. In this study, 25 mature female intact dogs were selected and randomly divided into five equal groups: Melatonin (melatonin, no surgery), OHE (no melatonin, surgery), OHE + melatonin (melatonin, surgery), anesthesia+melatonin (melatonin, sham surgery), and control (no melatonin, no surgery) groups. Melatonin (0.3 mg/Kg/day, p.o.) was administrated to the dogs in the melatonin, OHE + melatonin, and anesthesia+melatonin groups on days - 1, 0, 1, 2, and 3 (day 0 = OHE). Blood sampling was performed on days - 1, 1, 3, and 5 of the study. Blood samples were immediately transferred to the laboratory and sera were separated and stored at - 20 °C. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were measured with commercial kits. RESULTS: The levels of SOD, GPX and CAT were significantly higher in the melatonin and anesthesia+melatonin groups compared to those of the control group at days 3 and 5. The level of antioxidant enzymes significantly decreased in the OHE group compared to that of other groups at days 3 and 5. The administration of melatonin increased the level of antioxidant enzymes in ovariohysterectomized dogs. Ovariohysterectomy significantly increased the concentration of MDA in comparison to that of other groups at day 3. Melatonin administration significantly decreased the level of MDA in melatonin, anesthetized, and ovariohysterectomized dogs at day 3. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of melatonin on day - 1, 0, 1, 2 and 3 modulate the oxidative stress induced by OHE in dogs by increasing antioxidant enzymes concentration and decreasing MDA levels.

Oxidative-antioxidative status and hepatic and renal factors following melatonin administration in castrated and intact dogs.

BACKGROUNDS: Melatonin has significant antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects in normal and oxidative stress conditions. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of melatonin on antioxidant, hepatic, and renal factors in intact and castrated dogs. Twenty male mixed-breed adult dogs were aligned in an experimental randomized and controlled trial. The dogs were randomly divided into four equal groups: melatonin, castrated, castrated and melatonin, and control. They were treated with melatonin (0.3 mg/Kg, once daily, orally) immediately after the castration for 1 month and their blood samples were collected weekly from 2 days after treatment with melatonin. RESULTS: Treating castrated dogs with melatonin increased the level of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase compared with that of the control and castrated groups. The malondialdehyde level increased significantly following castration. Melatonin treatment decreased malondialdehyde concentration in the castrated dogs. Castration increased the level of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase significantly in comparison with that of the control group. Treating the castrated dogs with melatonin decreased significantly liver enzymes compared with those of the castrated dogs. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels increased in the castrated dogs in comparison with that of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of melatonin in castrated dogs increased antioxidant activity and decreased oxidation products, compared with those of the castrated and untreated dogs, without adverse effects on liver enzymes and kidney function.

CONTEXTE: La mélatonine possède des effets anti-oxydants et hépato-protecteurs dans les conditions normales et dans les situations de stress oxydant. L'objectif de la présente étude est d'évaluer les effets de la mélatonine sur des facteurs anti-oxydants, hépatiques et rénaux chez des chiens intacts et castrés. Vingt chiens mâles adultes de race croisée ont été utilisés dans un essai expérimental randomisé avec groupe témoin. Les chiens ont été attribués au hasard à quatre groupes de même effectif : mélatonine, castré, castré et mélatonine, et témoin. Ils ont été traité par la mélatonine (0.3 mg/kg, une fois par jour, par voie orale) immédiatement après la castration, pendant un mois ; des échantillons sanguins ont été collectés une fois par semaine à partir du deuxième jour de traitement par la mélatonine. RÉSULTATS: Le traitment par mélatonine chez les chiens castrés augmente les niveaux de glutathion peroxydase, de superoxyde dismutase, et de catalase par comparaison avec les niveaux chez les groupes témoin et castré. Le niveau de malondialdéhyde augmente de façon significative après la castration. Le traitement par mélatonine diminue la concentration de malondialdéhyde chez les chiens castrés. La castration augmente significativement les niveaux de phosphatase alcaline, d'aspartate aminotransférase, et d'alanine aminotransférase par comparaison à ceux du groupe témoin. Le traitement des chiens castrés par la mélatonine diminue de façon significative les enzymes hépatiques par comparaison à ceux des chiens castrés. Les taux sanguins d'azote uréique et de créatinine augmentent chez les chiens castrés comparé à ceux des chiens témoins. CONCLUSIONS: L'administration de mélatonine à des chiens castrés augmente l'activité anti-oxydante, et diminue les produits d'oxydation, par comparaison avec les chiens du groupe castré et non traité, sans effets indésirables sur les enzymes hépatiques et sur la fonction rénale.

Changes in thyroid hormones, leptin, ghrelin and, galanin following oral melatonin administration in intact and castrated dogs: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Melatonin regulates metabolism and metabolism related hormones in mammalians. Castration has some adverse effects on the metabolic hormones of dog. This study was conducted to determine the effects of oral melatonin administration on metabolic hormones, as well as to compare changes of these hormones after administration of melatonin in castrated and intact dogs. Twenty healthy mixed breed mature male dogs were divided randomly into four groups (n = 5): melatonin (3 mg/10 kg(, castrated, castrated and melatonin treated, and negative control. Blood sample was collected from jugular vein weekly for 1 month. RESULTS: T3 and T4 hormones had a significant decrease within 1 month following administration of melatonin. No significant change was observed in concentration of FT3 and FT4 hormones. Leptin and ghrelin hormones also had a significant decrease in this period. Leptin and ghrelin had a more significant decrease in "non-castrated and melatonin treated" group compared to "castrated and melatonin treated" group. Galanin had a significant decrease but this neurotransmitter had no significant change in "non-castrated and melatonin treated" group in comparison to "castrated and melatonin treated" group. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that daily administration of melatonin capsule in all dogs can probably decrease concentration of T3 and T4 hormones and balance other metabolic hormones following castration. METHODS: The dogs underwent castration, melatonin treatment and blood sampling.

Angiography of ovarian and uterine vessels of the dog.

A thorough knowledge about anastomoses between uterine and ovarian arteries could have great impact in surgical interventions. The present study aimed to use an angiographic procedure to show the vascular relationship between uterus and ovaries, possible anastomoses between uterine arteries during pregnancy, blood supply to gestational sacs, and the vascular pattern in the uterus of a bitch with pyometra. Uteri from 6 dogs (3 non-pregnant, 2 pregnant, and one with a pyometra uterus) were collected after ovariohysterectomy. A suspension of barium sulfate was injected into the middle uterine artery and, dorso-ventral radiographs were taken. In non-pregnant uteri, a contrast medium flowed into the middle uterine artery and, after covering all of its branches, the medium entered the ovarian parenchymal vessels. In addition, in the 35-day pregnant uteri, by injecting the contrast medium into the middle uterine artery of one horn the contralateral middle uterine artery received the media once the arteries of the initial horn were filled. The results showed some anastomoses between arteries of the two horns at this age of the pregnancy. The blood circulation of the gestational sacs in each uterine horn started from the base of the horn and continued to the apex. In conclusion, there are anastomoses between uterine and ovarian arteries in non-pregnant, and between arteries of different uterine horns in pregnant bitch.