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Effects of melatonin on behavioral changes of neonatal rats in a model of cortical dysplasia
H H Karadeli1, B Aktekin, B Yilmaz
1Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakıf University, Istanbul, Turkey. hhkaradeli@yahoo.com
Insights
Melatonin administration improved activity and reduced anxiety in a rat model of cortical dysplasia (CD). This suggests melatonin may offer protective behavioral effects against CD-related disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cortical dysplasia (CD) is linked to behavioral disorders in children and adults.
- The impact of melatonin on CD-induced behavioral changes in rats remains unstudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess melatonin's effects on activity and anxiety in neonatal rats with CD.
- To explore melatonin as a potential therapeutic intervention for CD-related behavioral issues.
Main Methods:
- A rat model of CD was created using a freeze lesion on postnatal day 1.
- Rats received daily melatonin (4 mg/kg) or vehicle for three weeks, starting ten days post-lesion.
- Behavioral analysis included open field and elevated plus maze tests.
Main Results:
- CD rats showed significantly reduced exploration in the open field compared to controls.
- Melatonin treatment increased open field exploration in CD rats, surpassing even control levels.
- Melatonin administration reversed the increased anxiety observed in CD rats.
Conclusions:
- Melatonin demonstrates protective behavioral effects in a neonatal rat model of cortical dysplasia.
- These findings support further clinical research into melatonin as an adjunct therapy for CD-associated behavioral impairments.
Background:
Cortical dysplasia (CD) is associated with several behavioral disorders in both the pediatric and the adult population. The effect of melatonin on behavioral disorders in rats generated CD has not been investigated so far.
Aim:
To investigate the effects of melatonin administration on activity and anxietic behavior of neonatal rats in a model of CD.
Materials And Methods:
Newborn Sprague-Dawley rats (n=21) were randomized into three groups. On postnatal day 1, one freeze lesion was carried out in 14 rats between bregma and lambda to create a CD model. Another group of neonatal rats served as control group (n=7). Those 14 rats were either administered melatonin (n=7) or vehicle solution (n=7). Melatonin treatment (4 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was initiated ten days after induction of cold injury and continued for three weeks. Animal activity and anxiety were analyzed by using open field and elevated plus maze tests 24h after the last melatonin administration (day 32) in a blind manner.
Results:
It was observed that CD induced animals spent significantly less time in the open field area when compared to the other groups (p < 0.01). Additionally, the time spent in the open field area was significantly elevated in the melatonin-treated animals compared to both the control and the CD groups (p < 0.01). Accordingly, anxiety scores in the CD group was significantly increased (p < 0.01), and this effect could be reversed by administration of melatonin.
Conclusions:
Melatonin exerts protective behavioral effects against cortical dysplasia in newborn rats. Further clinical investigations may prove melatonin as a useful therapeutic adjunct to prevent from possible behavioural damages of cortical dysplasia.
