Melatonin ameliorates ANIT‑induced cholestasis by activating Nrf2 through a PI3K/Akt‑dependent pathway in rats

Li,Yunzhou; Yu,Han; Xu,Zongying; Shi,Shaohua; Wang,Dingnan; Shi,Xinghua; Wang,Yuchen; Zeng,Baihui; Deng,Huifang; Deng,Xiulan; Zhong,Xianggen

doi:10.3892/mmr.2018.9746

Melatonin ameliorates ANIT‑induced cholestasis by activating Nrf2 through a PI3K/Akt‑dependent pathway in rats

Authors:
- Yunzhou Li
- Han Yu
- Zongying Xu
- Shaohua Shi
- Dingnan Wang
- Xinghua Shi
- Yuchen Wang
- Baihui Zeng
- Huifang Deng
- Xiulan Deng
- Xianggen Zhong
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Affiliations: Synopsis of Golden Chamber Department, Chinese Medicine College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Chaoyang, Beijing 100029, P.R. China, Department of Pharmacology, Chinese Medicine College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Chaoyang, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
Published online on: December 12, 2018 https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.9746
Pages: 1185-1193
Copyright: © Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Cholestasis is a devastating liver condition which is increasing in prevalence worldwide; however, its underlying pathogenic mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. It was hypothesised that melatonin may alleviate the hepatic injury associated with cholestasis due to its established antioxidant effects. Therefore, the effect and potential anticholestatic properties of melatonin were investigated in rats with α‑naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)‑induced liver injury, a common animal model that mimics the cholestasis‑associated liver injury in humans. The rats received intraperitoneal injection of ANIT with or without subsequent treatment with melatonin, and were sacrificed 24 h later. The serum biochemistry parameters of the liver were measured using conventional laboratory assays, and the liver tissue was subjected to conventional histological examination, reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis and western blotting. The levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, total bile acids, alkaline phosphatase, γ‑glutamyl transferase and glutathione were restored in rats treated with melatonin. Histological examination provided further evidence supporting the protective effect of melatonin against ANIT‑induced cholestasis. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression levels of glutamate cysteine ligase, phosphorylated Akt and nuclear factor‑erythroid 2‑related factor‑2 were restored in rats treated with melatonin. These findings indicate that melatonin is a natural agent that appears to be promising for the treatment of cholestasis, and that the anticholestatic effects of melatonin involve the alleviation of oxidative stress.

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