Evaluation of melatonin for modulation of apoptosis-related genes in irradiated cervical spinal cord
by Alireza Shirazi, Gholamhassan Haddadi, Bagher Minaee, Zargham Sepehrizadeh, Seied Rabie Mahdavi, Elham Jaberi, Maryam Haddadi
International Journal of Low Radiation (IJLR), Vol. 7, No. 6, 2010

Abstract: This study examined the role of melatonin to reduce radiation-induced apoptosis in rat's cervical spinal cord. A number of rats were divided into four groups: (1) control group; (2) group that was treated with intraperitonial injection of melatonin; (3) group that got melatonin 30 min prior to cervical spinal cord gamma irradiation at a dose of 22 Gy; and (4) group that was given an intraperitonial injection of vehicle and the spinal cord radiation. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was evaluated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Radiation-induced apoptosis was preceded by an increase in Bax gene expression. There was no evidence of radiation-induced apoptosis in the spinal cord of melatonin-treated animals. These findings suggest that melatonin has protective effects against spinal cord radiation-induced apoptosis through regulation of Bcl-2 and Bax expression. Thus, one possible role of melatonin in prevention of spinal cord injury is to block radiation-induced apoptosis.

Online publication date: Thu, 23-Dec-2010

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