Affiliation:
1. Faculty of Medicine National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University School of Medicine Taipei Taiwan
2. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, and Therapeutic and Research Center of Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension Taipei Veterans General Hospital Taipei Taiwan
3. Division of Holistic and Multidisciplinary Medicine, Department of Medicine Taipei Veterans General Hospital Taipei Taiwan
4. Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine Taipei Veterans General Hospital Taipei Taiwan
Abstract
AbstractChronic liver damages may end up with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, featured by splanchnic hyperdynamic circulation, angiogenesis, and collaterals formation. Melatonin is used to improve sleep quality, which exerts anti‐inflammatory, anti‐angiogenesis, and vascular actions without significant side effects. However, the relevant impacts on aforementioned derangements are unclear. Liver cirrhosis was induced by bile duct ligation in Sprague‐Dawley rats. The rats received melatonin (40 mg/kg/day, i.p.) or vehicle for 28 days. Experiments were performed on the 28th day when cirrhosis developed. In cirrhotic rats, melatonin treatment significantly increased superior mesenteric artery resistance and reduced the blood flow. Melatonin enhanced the portosystemic collateral responsiveness to arginine vasopressin, reduced mesenteric vascular area, shunting degree, and down‐regulated mesenteric MMP‐2 protein expression. Melatonin improved the splanchnic hyperdynamic circulation, portosystemic collateral shunting, and mesenteric angiogenesis in cirrhotic rats. These beneficial effects make melatonin potentially feasible in clinical setting, but further investigation is required.
Funder
Taipei Veterans General Hospital