Protective effects of melatonin and vitamin E in brain damage due to gamma radiation: an experimental study
Abstract
Gamma radiation is known to cause serious damage in the brain, and many agents have been used for neuroprotection.
In this study, lipid peroxidation levels and histopathological changes in brain tissues of whole-body irradiated rats with likely radiation injury were compared to those with melatonin and vitamin E protection.
Forty rats in four equal groups were used. The control group received neither radiation nor medication. The remaining groups received doses of 720 cGy in two equal fractions 12 h apart. The second group received radiation but no medication, the third received radiation plus 100 mg/kg per day of vitamin E i.p., and the fourth received radiation plus 100 mg/kg per day of melatonin i.p. over 5 days. On the 10th postoperative day, all the rats were decapitated and specimens from parietal cortices were analyzed for tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and histopathological changes.
Increases in MDA were relatively well prevented by melatonin treatment but less so with vitamin E therapy. On histopathological examination, melatonin significantly reduced the rates of edema, necrosis, and neuronal degeneration, whereas vitamin E reduced only necrosis. Neither substance was capable of preventing vasodilatation.
In conclusion, melatonin may be useful in preventing the pathological changes of secondary brain damage as a result of free oxygen radicals generated by irradiation.
See also:
- Official Web Site: The Di Bella Method;
- Melatonin use in cancer patients have started in 1974, when melatonin prepared according to Prof. Di Bella’s formulation [...]. For 11 days was administered to the patient, admitted to the general medical ward at the Maggiore-Pizzardi Hospital in Bologna, very slowly (over approx. 8 hours) and intravenously administered 1000 mg of melatonin for 11 days. During the course of each day, the patient was intravenously administered 4 saline drips of 500 ml, each containing ten 25 mg bottles of freeze-dried melatonin, lasting 2 hours, totaling 1000 mg per day. No other drug of any kind was administered in order to ascertain the effect of the MLT without interference [...]. From Melatonin with adenosine solubilized in water and stabilized with glycine for oncological treatment - technical preparation, effectivity and clinical findings;
- About Melatonin - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;
- Publication: Melatonin anticancer effects: Review (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication: Key aspects of melatonin physiology: 30 years of research (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Solution of retinoids in vitamin E in the Di Bella Method biological multitherapy;
- Beta-Carotene or β-carotene in Solution of retinoids in vitamin E in the Di Bella Method biological multitherapy;
- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Bromocriptine and/or Cabergoline);
- Prolactin inhibitors in oncology - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;
- Somatostatin in oncology, the overlooked evidences - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;
- Publication, 2018 Jul: Over-Expression of GH/GHR in Breast Cancer and Oncosuppressor Role of Somatostatin as a Physiological Inhibitor (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication, 2018 Sep: The over-expression of GH/GHR in tumour tissues with respect to healthy ones confirms its oncogenic role and the consequent oncosuppressor role of its physiological inhibitor, somatostatin: a review of the literature (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication, 2019 Aug: The Entrapment of Somatostatin in a Lipid Formulation: Retarded Release and Free Radical Reactivity (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication, 2019 Sep: Effects of Somatostatin and Vitamin C on the Fatty Acid Profile of Breast Cancer Cell Membranes (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication, 2019 Sep: Effects of somatostatin, curcumin, and quercetin on the fatty acid profile of breast cancer cell membranes (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication, 2020 Sep: Two neuroendocrine G protein-coupled receptor molecules, somatostatin and melatonin: Physiology of signal transduction and therapeutic perspectives (from Di Bella's Foundation);
The Di Bella's Method: Use of Melatonin since 1974 and Vitamin E - together with others chemical compounds: the dosage and administration schedule must be individualised for each patient - in several Oncological Pathologies:
- Complete objective response to biological therapy of plurifocal breast carcinoma;
- Pleural Mesothelioma: clinical records on 11 patients treated with Di Bella's Method;
- Malignant pleural mesothelioma, stage T3-T4. Consideration of a case study;
- Neuroblastoma: Complete objective response to biological treatment;
- Large B-cells Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Stage IV-AE: a Case Report;
- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Stage III-B-E: a Case Report;
- Oesophageal squamocellular carcinoma: a complete and objective response;
- Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: clinical records on 17 patients treated with Di Bella's Method;






