Effects of melatonin on behavioral changes of neonatal rats in a model of cortical dysplasia

H.H. Karadeli, B. Aktekin, B. Yilmaz, E. Kilic, E. Uzar, A. Aci, C.A. Bingol

Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakıf University, Istanbul, Turkey. hhkaradeli@yahoo.com

 

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• Neurology

BACKGROUND: Cortical dysplasia (CD) is associated with several behavioral disorders in both the pediatric and the adult population. The effect of melatonin on behavioral disorders in rats generated CD has not been investigated so far.

AIM: To investigate the effects of melatonin administration on activity and anxietic behavior of neonatal rats in a model of CD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Newborn Sprague-Dawley rats (n=21) were randomized into three groups. On postnatal day 1, one freeze lesion was carried out in 14 rats between bregma and lambda to create a CD model. Another group of neonatal rats served as control group (n=7). Those 14 rats were either administered melatonin (n=7) or vehicle solution (n=7). Melatonin treatment (4 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was initiated ten days after induction of cold injury and continued for three weeks. Animal activity and anxiety were analyzed by using open field and elevated plus maze tests 24h after the last melatonin administration (day 32) in a blind manner.

RESULTS: It was observed that CD induced animals spent significantly less time in the open field area when compared to the other groups (p < 0.01). Additionally, the time spent in the open field area was significantly elevated in the melatonin-treated animals compared to both the control and the CD groups (p < 0.01). Accordingly, anxiety scores in the CD group was significantly increased (p < 0.01), and this effect could be reversed by administration of melatonin.

CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin exerts protective behavioral effects against cortical dysplasia in newborn rats. Further clinical investigations may prove melatonin as a useful therapeutic adjunct to prevent from possible behavioural damages of cortical dysplasia.

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