Effect of prolonged melatonin administration on metabolic parameters and organ weights in young male and female Sprague-Dawley rats

The question of the introduction of melatonin as a drug remains still open. Especially the long term melatonin administration have to be analysed and discussed. The aim of present study was to analyze the effect of low doses of melatonin (4 mug/ml of tap water) administered for 70 days, daily from 15.00 to 08.00 h (from 08.00 to 15.00 h animals were drinking tap water) on selected metabolic parameters in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. In addition to concentration/content of triacylglycerols, phospholipids, cholesterol, malondialdehyde, glucose and glycogen in the serum and tissues, serum corticosterone and insulin, weights of selected organs, periovarial and epididymal fat and body weight were recordered. Melatonin was not administered to control groups. Oral glucose tolerance tests were carried out before melatonin administration and 9 weeks thereafter. Male and female rats aged 5 weeks were adapted to standard vivarium conditions and artificial light regimen L:D- 12:12 h. The animals were fed MP diet containing 2.5 % fat at least and drank tap water or melatonin solution ad libitum. The rats were weighed twice a week and food and water intake was recorded. After 10 weeks they were sacrificed, organs and tissues were weighed and the aforementioned metabolic parameters were determined in the serum, liver, heart muscle and bone marrow (femur). Melatonin administration decreased significantly the serum triacylglycerol concentration and liver glycogen content in male rats, and it increased liver the phospholipid content in females. Melatonin did not acutely modify the values of other metabolic parameters. Prolonged melatonin administration significantly increased the weight of heart muscle and periovarial fat in females, in males significantly reduced the weight of adrenals, liver, heart muscle and epididymal fat as well as their body weight from day 19 to the end of experiment. Body weight in MEL-drinking females was similar to that in controls. Water and food intake in MEL-drinking males did not differ from controls, in females was temporarily increased in week 6. Prolonged melatonin administration did not significantly influence the glycemia level. The oral glucose tolerance test curves were normal before melatonin administration; one abnormal curve (out of 9 individuals), in the female group and 2 abnormal curves in the male group (out of 9 individuals) were recorded 9 weeks after melatonin administration. Prolonged melatonin treatment resulted in sexual differences in body weight, epididymal and periovarial fat, and heart muscle weight.