Ameliorative effects of the melatonin on some cytokine levels, NF-κB immunoreactivity, and apoptosis in rats with cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis

Objective(s): 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 ۲ successive intraperitoneal doses of cerulein at a ۲-hour interval (۵۰ µg/kg and then ۲۵ µg/kg), melatonin-treated pancreatitis group which was intraperitoneally administrated with ۵۰ mg/kg of melatonin, ۳۰ min before each cerulein injection, and melatonin group which was intraperitoneally administrated with ۲ successive doses of melatonin (۵۰ mg/kg each) at a ۲-hour interval. Pancreatic tissue and blood samples were taken from animals of all groups. IL-۱β, TNF-α, and IL-۱۰ 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-۱β, TNF-α, and IL-۱۰ levels in the acute pancreatitis group were significantly increased when compared to the control negative group. IL-۱β 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