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MINIREVIEW

When Melatonin Gets on Your Nerves: Its Beneficial Actions in Experimental Models of Stroke

Russel J. Reiter^*,1, Dun-xian Tan^*, Josefa Leon^*, Ülkan Kilic and Ertugrul Kilic

^* Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78229; and Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

To whom requests for reprints should be addressed at ¹ Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MC 7762, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900. E-mail: reiter{at}uthscsa.edu

This article summarizes the evidence that endogenously produced and exogenously administered melatonin reduces the degree of tissue damage and limits the biobehavioral deficits associated with experimental models of ischemia/reperfusion injury in the brain (i.e., stroke). Melatonin’s efficacy in curtailing neural damage under conditions of transitory interruption of the blood supply to the brain has been documented in models of both focal and global ischemia. In these studies many indices have been shown to be improved as a consequence of melatonin treatment. For example, when given at the time of ischemia or reperfusion onset, melatonin reduces neurophysiological deficits, infarct volume, the degree of neural edema, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls, DNA damage, neuron and glial loss, and death of the animals. Melatonin’s protective actions against these adverse changes are believed to stem from its direct free radical scavenging and indirect antioxidant activities, possibly from its ability to limit free radical generation at the mitochondrial level and because of yet-undefined functions. Considering its high efficacy in overcoming much of the damage associated with ischemia/reperfusion injury, not only in the brain but in other organs as well, its use in clinical trials for the purpose of improving stroke outcome should be seriously considered.

Key Words: ischemia/reperfusion injury • stroke • brain oxidative stress • antioxidant • melatonin • free radicals

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