Chagas disease, triggered by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) plays a potentially threat to historically non-endemic areas. Considerable evidence established that the immuno-endocrine balance could deeply influence the experimental T. cruzi progression inside the host's body. A high-resolution multiple reaction monitoring approach (MRM^HR) was used to study the influence of melatonin on adrenal and plasma steroidal hormones profile of T. cruzi infected Wistar rats. Young (5 weeks) and middle-aged (18 months) male Wistar rats received melatonin (5 mg/Kg, orally) during the acute Chagas disease. Corticosterone, 11-dehydrocorticosterone (11-DHC), cortisol, cortisone, aldosterone, progesterone and melatonin concentration were evaluated. Interleukin-1 alpha and β (IL-1α and β), IL-6 and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) were also analyzed. Our results revealed an increased production of corticosterone, cortisone, cortisol and aldosterone in middle-aged control animals, thus confirming the aging effects on the steroidal hormone profile. Serum melatonin levels were reduced with age and predominantly higher in young and middle-aged infected rats. Melatonin treatment reduced the corticosterone, 11-DHC, cortisol, cortisone, aldosterone and progesterone in response to T. cruzi infection. Decreased IL-1 α and β concentrations were also found in melatonin treated middle-aged infected animals. Melatonin treated middle-aged control rats displayed reduced concentrations of TGF-β. Melatonin levels were significantly higher in all middle-aged rats treated animals. Reduced percentages of early and late thymocyte apoptosis was found for young and middle-aged melatonin supplemented rats. Finally, our results show a link between the therapeutic and biological effects of melatonin controlling steroidal hormones pathways as well as inflammatory mediators.

由鞭毛原生动物Trypanosoma cruzi（T. cruzi）触发的恰加斯病对历史上非流行地区具有潜在威胁。大量证据表明，免疫-内分泌平衡可能会深刻影响宿主体内实验性克鲁维氏酵母的进程。高分辨率多反应监测方法（MRM ^HR）用于研究褪黑激素对克鲁斯氏杆菌感染Wistar大鼠肾上腺和血浆类固醇激素谱的影响。年轻（5周）和中年（18个月）男性Wistar在急性恰加斯病期间，大鼠接受褪黑激素（5 mg / Kg口服）。评估了皮质酮，11-脱氢皮质酮（11-DHC），皮质醇，可的松，醛固酮，孕酮和褪黑激素的浓度。还分析了白介素-1α和β（IL-1α和β），IL-6和转化生长因子β（TGF-β）。我们的研究结果表明，中年对照动物体内皮质酮，可的松，皮质醇和醛固酮的产生增加，从而证实了衰老对甾体激素谱的影响。血清褪黑激素水平随着年龄的增长而降低，在年轻和中年感染的大鼠中主要升高。褪黑素治疗可降低对克鲁格氏菌的反应，从而降低皮质酮，11-DHC，皮质醇，可的松，醛固酮和孕酮感染。在褪黑素治疗的中年感染动物中也发现IL-1α和β浓度降低。褪黑素治疗的中年对照组大鼠的TGF-β浓度降低。在所有中年大鼠治疗的动物中，褪黑激素水平均显着较高。发现年轻和中年补充褪黑激素的大鼠胸腺细胞早期和晚期细胞凋亡的百分比降低。最后，我们的结果表明褪黑激素控制类固醇激素途径以及炎症介质的治疗和生物学作用之间存在联系。