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Abstract
A comparative analysis was performed on the effects of melatonin in the biochemical rhythms in young (4–6 months) and aged (22–24 months) male Wistar rats. Experimental rats were divided into (1) young rats (control), (2) young rats treated with melatonin, (3) aged rats (control) and (4) aged rats treated with melatonin (2 mg/kg body weight). The characteristics of 24 h variations (acrophase, amplitude and mesor) of lipid peroxidation products (TBARS, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and antioxidants [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] were analyzed. A significant increase in the level of lipid peroxidation (increased mesor of TBARS) and decrease in the antioxidants (decreased mesor of SOD, CAT, GSH and GPx) were observed in aged controls when compared to younger controls. The level of lipid peroxidation decreased and antioxidants increased both young and aged rats by the administration of melatonin. These results indicate that administration of melatonin could act as the modulated internal zeitgeber and could also act as an antioxidant.