Melatonin may delay aging in gastric mucosa tissue by decreasing caspase-3 activity. - GreenMedInfo Summary

Background and Aims: The aging process of the tissues is usually accompanied by increased rate of apoptosis. Although melatonin has been reported to delay aging process by scavenging free radicals, its role on aging of gastric mucosa is not known. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of exogenous melatonin (MLT) on the caspase-dependent apoptosis of gastric mucosa during aging. Methods: A total of fifty five young, middle-aged and aged male Wistar-albino rats were used in this study. The rats were divided as control, treated with 0.1 ml of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing 1% ethanol and melatonin groups treated with MLT (10 mg/kg/day s.c., dissolved in 0.1 ml of PBS containing 1% ethanol) for 21 days. Plasma thiobarbutiric acid (TBARS) and sulphydryl (RSH) levels were studied as oxidant-antioxidant parameters. Caspase-3 activity of gastric mucosal tissue was assayed as an indicator of apoptosis. The level of p53 protein of gastric mucosa was assayed by using a p53 pan ELISA. Results: The plasma TBARS and caspase-3 activity of gastric mucosa were significantly increased in aged group. MLT significantly decreased the plasma TBARS levels of all test groups. MLT also significantly decreased the caspase-3 activity of the gastric mucosa in the aged group (p<0.001). Melatonin had no effect on the p53 expression levels of the gastric mucosa. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings suggest that the aging process of gastric mucosa is closely related to increased apoptosis rate and caspase-3 activity. The exogenous MLT might delay aging by decreasing caspase-3 activity.