Immunohistochemical distribution of glutathione peroxidase and its gene expression via RT-PCR in the liver tissue of melatonin-administered mice

Authors: SERAP KORAL TAŞÇI, NURHAYAT GÜLMEZ

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of exogenous administration of melatonin, which is a strong antioxidant agent, on the gene expression of glutathione peroxidase, which is one of the antioxidant enzymes, in the livers of mice and also to examine the immunohistochemical localization of the enzyme. The 24 male Swiss albino mice used in the study were divided into 3 groups: experimental (n = 8), sham (n = 8), and control (n = 8). A 10 mg/kg dose of melatonin was administered intraperitoneally to the experimental group for 4 weeks. Only ethanol and a serum physiological solution were applied to the sham group. No administration was done for the control group. It was observed that the expression level of the glutathione peroxidase 1 enzyme in the experimental group showed a statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) compared to the sham and control groups. In the immunohistochemical examinations, it was seen that immunoreactivity was especially intensified in the hepatocytes around Kiernan’s space and in the hepatocytes around the vena centralis, and that reaction was generally present both as cytoplasmic and nuclear reactions in the hepatocytes.

Keywords: Melatonin, liver, glutathione peroxidase 1, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry

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