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Published on: July 30, 2016
Melatonin Administration Prevents Placental and Fetal Changes Induced by Gestational Diabetes
Ismaela Maria Ferreira de Melo1, Cintia Giselle Martins Ferreira2, Érique Ricardo Alves2
1Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology (UFRPE), Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil. ismaelamelo@yahoo.com.br.
Abstract:
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) promotes changes in the placenta and fetuses, due to oxidative stress. Antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress in the placenta. We tested the hypothesis that melatonin (Mel) can prevent these effects in the placenta and fetuses, analyzing their histology, histochemistry, morphometry, and immunohistochemistry. Thirty albino rats were used, divided into groups: CG-pregnant non-diabetic rats; GD-pregnant diabetic rats; GD + Mel-pregnant diabetic rats treated with melatonin. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin at a dosage of 50 mg/kg i.p. Melatonin was administered in daily injections of 0.8 mg/kg i.p. Melatonin prevented the placental weight and fetal weight and length from increasing, in addition to histomoformetric, histochemical, and immunohistochemical changes in the placentas, compared to the placentas of diabetic females (GD). Thus, we conclude that melatonin has a great potential to prevent placental changes due to GDM.
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