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Melatonin attenuated the brain damage and cognitive impairment partially through MT2 melatonin receptor in mice with
Tzu-Hsien Tsai1,2, Cheng-Jei Lin1, Sarah Chua1
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Background:
Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a spectrum of cognitive impairment caused by various chronic diseases including aging, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Oxidative and inflammatory reactions induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CHP) are believed to cause VCI. Melatonin is reported to possess anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation effects. This study was designed to investigate the effect and mechanisms of melatonin in CHP mice model.
Results:
The behavioral function results revealed that CHP mice were significantly impaired when compared with the control. Melatonin improved the cognitive function, but the addition of MT2 receptor antagonist reversed the improvement. The IHC staining showed melatonin significantly improved WM lesions and gliosis in CHP mice. Again, the addition of MT2 receptor antagonist to melatonin worsened the WM lesion and gliosis. Similar results were also found for mRNA and protein expressions of oxidative reaction and inflammatory cytokines.
Materials And Method:
Forty C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: Group 1: sham control; Group 2: CHP mice; Group 3: CHP with melatonin treatment; Group 4: CHP-melatonin and MT2 receptor antagonist (all groups n = 10). Working memory was assessed with Y-arm test at day-28 post-BCAS (bilateral carotid artery stenosis). All mice were sacrificed at day-30 post-BCAS. The immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was used for white matter (WM) damage and gliosis. The expression of mRNA and proteins about inflammatory and oxidative reaction were measured and compared between groups.
Conclusions:
Partially through MT2 receptor, melatonin is effective for CHP-induced brain damage.
