Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Histology

Peripheral nerve injuries are commonly encountered in clinical practice due to several causes such as accidental trauma or surgery. All of these traumas can cause temporary or life-long disabilities that can subsequently lead to social or economic problems. Melatonin, the secretory product of the pineal gland exhibits an array of biological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of melatonin on the recovery of sciatic nerve after injury with comparing its effect when it is given to the rats in the light or the dark period. Forty adult male wistar albino rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups, each one contains 10 rats: group 1 (control), group 2 (nerve injury), group 3 (nerve injury+melatonin given at light) and group 4 (nerve injury + melatonin given at dark). Nerve injury was initiated by clamping the sciatic nerves with a standard temporary aneurismal clip for 2 minutes for all groups except the control one. Sciatic functional index (SFI) was measured preoperatively for all groups and nerve injury was confirmed by measuring the sciatic functional index postoperatively. Melatonin was given as 50 mg/kg BW intraperitoneally daily for 6 weeks. Recovery of the function was analyzed by functional analysis [Sciatic function index], electrophysiological analysis [Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) and force of muscle contraction] and biochemical analysis by measuring - superoxide dismutase (SOD), Interleukin 1B (IL-1B), Nerve growth factor (NGF), and bcl-2

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