Melatonin May Curtail the Metabolic Syndrome: Studies on Initial and Fully Established Fructose-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Daniel P. Cardinali²  Pablo A. Scacchi Bernasconi²  Roxana Reynoso²  Carlos F. Reyes Toso¹ 

[1] Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, 1121 Buenos Aires, Argentina; E-Mail:;Department of Teaching and Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, 1107 Buenos Aires, Argentina; E-Mails:

关键词: metabolic syndrome;    melatonin;    fructose;    dyslipidemia;    hypertension;    obesity;    glucose tolerance;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms14022502

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

To examine the effect of melatonin given to rats simultaneously with fructose on initial and fully developed metabolic syndrome, male Wistar rats had free access to chow and 5% or 10% fructose drinking solution for 8 weeks. As compared to controls, systolic blood pressure augmented significantly under both treatments whereas excessive body weight was seen in rats receiving the 10% fructose only. Rats drinking 5% fructose showed a greater tolerance to a glucose load while rats having access to a 10% fructose drinking solution exhibited the expected impaired glucose tolerance found in the metabolic syndrome. Circulating triglyceride and low density lipoproteins-cholesterol (LDL-c) concentration augmented significantly in rats showing a fully developed metabolic syndrome only, while high blood cholesterol levels were found at both stages examined. Melatonin (25 μg/mL drinking solution) counteracted the changes in body weight and systolic blood pressure found in rats administered with fructose. Melatonin decreased the abnormal hyperglycemia seen after a glucose load in 10% fructose-treated rats but it did not modify the greater tolerance to glucose observed in animals drinking 5% fructose. Melatonin also counteracted the changes in plasma LDL-c, triglyceride and cholesterol levels and decreased plasma uric acid levels. The results underline a possible therapeutical role of melatonin in the metabolic syndrome, both at initial and established phases.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.