Melatonin and Vitamin C Administration Ameliorate Alcohol-Induced Oxidative Stress and eNOS Expression in Liver of Rats

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of melatonin and vitamin C on alcoholic liver disease. Material and Methods: Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were used in this study. Rats were divided into four equal groups. Group I (control): rats were not fed on alcohol; Group II: rats were fed on alcohol during 28 days; Group III: rats were fed on alcohol and 40 mg/ kg vitamin C were injected intraperitoneally and Group IV: rats were fed on alcohol and 4 mg/ kg melatonin were injected intraperitoneally. At the end of the experiment, rats were sacrificed and liver tissues were processed. Results: Light microscopic examinations revealed steatosis in the ethanol-fed group. Expression of eNOS was distributed mainly in periportal regions of the acinus while decreased eNOS immunoreactivity was observed in fatty hepatocytes. In melatonin and vitamin C treated groups, eNOS immunoreactivity was not changed compared to alcohol groups. Chronic ethanol ingestion significantly increased MDA, SOD and catalase activity and melatonin significantlydecreased MDA levels. Conclusion: Present results indicated that alcohol consumption caused steatosis especially around central vein and mononuclear cell infiltration in some areas and melatonin and vitamin C partially ameliorated this damage.