Stress is known to produce many effects on the body as 02 -free
radical production, hyperglycemia, hypercholeSterolemia and
hypertriglyeeridemia. Melatonin is known to be a highly efficient free
radical scavenger, it is also known to produce some metabolic changes.
Little is known about the role of melatonin in stress. The aim of the
present work was to study the effect of melatonin on stress induced 02 -
free radical production, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and
hypertriglyceridemia. The results obtained showed that immobilization
stress caused a significant increase in the plasma level of 02 -free radical,
as indicated by the plasma level of malondialdehyde (MDA), glucose,
cholesterol and triglycerides (P <0.05). Melatonin administration prior to
stress caused a significant decrease in the stress-induced 02 free radical
production, (P < 0.01) while it has no significant effect on the stress
induced hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolcinia and hypertriglyccridcmia.
Thus, the present study might give a new meaning for the emerging role of
melatonin as anti-stress hormone. |
