The effects of levonorgestrel and/or melatonin treatment on hepatic glutathione and malondialdehyde levels in rats Ratlara uygulanan levonorgestrel ve/veya melatoninin hepatik glutatyon ve malondialdehit seviyelerine etkisi

Purpose: To investigate the effects of levonorgestrel (LNG), progestin derivative, alone or in combination with melatonin (MEL) on the levels of hepatic reduced (GSH) and oxidised (GSSG) glutathione and malondialdehyde (MDA) which are components of the oxidant-antioxidant system, by using rat as a model. Material and Methods: Female rats were divided into four groups (10 in each) as follows: l-subcutaneous treatment group with LNG (5.0 mg/kg/day) 2-subcutaneous treatment group with MEL (25.0 mg/kg/day) 3-subcutaneous treatment group with a combination of 5.0 mg LNG and 25.0 mg MEL/Kg/day and also a control group: the subcutaneous injections were performed for for five consecutive days. Following the last treatment, the levels of GSH and GSSG and MDA were measured and the ratios of GSH/GSSG calculated in the rat liver tissues. Results: There were no significant differences with respect to GSH or GSSG levels, and GSH/GSSG ratios between the control and MEL groups: but MDA levels were lower in the MEL group. Although GSSG and MDA levels were found to be higher, GSH levels and GSH/GSSG ratio were lower in the LNG group compared with control and the MEL groups. Significant decreased GSSG and MDA levels, but increased GSH levels and GSH/GSSG ratios were observed in the group treated with LNG and MEL combination, in respect to the LNG group. Conclusion: Oxidative damage induced by LNG may be prevented in the presence of MEL: therefore the usage of MEL, as an antioxidant, together with contraceptive steroids may be proposed

The effect of levonorgestrel and melatonin treatments on plasma oxidant-antioxidant system, and lipid/lipoprotein levels in female rats

This study was carried out in order to determine the effects of levonorgestrel (LNG) and progestin derivatives, alone and in combination with melatonin (MEL), on the plasma oxidant-antioxidant system, and also lipid and lipoprotein levels, in the rat model. Female rats were divided into 4 groups according to subcutaneous treatment with LNG (5 mg/kg/day), MEL (25 mg/kg/day) and a LNG-MEL combination (5 mg LNG/25 mg MEL/kg/day) for 5 consecutive days, and a control group. Following the treatment period, malondialdehyde (MDA), conjugated dienes (CD), thiol (SH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) values, as the components of the oxidant-antioxidant system, and also triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (TC, HDL-C, LDL-C) levels were measured in plasma obtained from the rats. Statistical comparisons were made using ANOVA and post-ANOVA tests. There were no significant differences in respect of any of the measured parameters between the controls and the MEL group. Although there were no significant differences in TG and HDL-C, MDA and CD levels were found to be higher, but SH and GPx values lower in the LNG group than in the control and MEL groups. On the other hand, the LNG treatment along with MEL resulted in significant decreases in MDA, CD, TC, LDL-C levels and elevations in SH and GPx in respect of the LNG group, and these values measured in the LNG-MEL group were not different from those of the control and MEL groups. In conclusion, the use of MEL together with synthetic sex steroids, which may lead to oxidative stress and induce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), may play an important role in reducing the risk of CVD, through the protection of the antioxidant system

Is there an oxidative stress in children with Helicobacter pylori infection?

Objectives: To investigate the status of oxidative stress in children with Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and their relationship with inflammatory parameters