Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of melatonin on the serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels and the expressions of vaspin, visfatin, dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH), and signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) for evaluation of endothelial function and inflammation in the hypercholesterolemic rats. Rats were divided into 5 groups: (1) control, (2) hypercholesterolaemia, (3) melatonin administrated concurrently with cholesterol diet, (4) melatonin administrated only last 2 weeks and fed with cholesterol diet, (5) atorvastatin administered only last 2 weeks fed with cholesterol diet. Although an increase was observed in the expressions of visfatin and STAT-3 and the serum ADMA levels, the vaspin and DDAH protein expressions were found to decrease with hypercholesterolemic diets. Melatonin was determined to restore all the parameters to the normal levels. In conclusion, melatonin may have protective and therapeutic effects on hypercholesterolaemia by regulating vaspin, STAT-3, DDAH, and ADMA signalling pathways and create similar effects with atorvastatin.

摘要

本研究的目的是研究褪黑激素对血清不对称二甲基精氨酸 (ADMA) 水平和血管内毒素、内脂素、二甲基精氨酸二甲基氨基水解酶 (DDAH) 和信号转导和转录激活因子 3 (STAT-3) 表达的影响。评估高胆固醇血症大鼠的内皮功能和炎症。大鼠分为 5 组：(1) 对照组，(2) 高胆固醇血症，(3) 褪黑激素与胆固醇饮食同时给药，(4) 褪黑激素仅在最后 2 周给药并用胆固醇饮食喂养，(5) 阿托伐他汀仅在最后 2 周给药周喂食胆固醇饮食。尽管观察到内脂素和 STAT-3 的表达以及血清 ADMA 水平有所增加，但发现高胆固醇饮食会降低 vaspin 和 DDAH 蛋白的表达。确定褪黑激素可将所有参数恢复到正常水平。总之，褪黑激素可能通过调节 vaspin、STAT-3、DDAH 和 ADMA 信号通路对高胆固醇血症具有保护和治疗作用，并与阿托伐他汀产生相似的作用。