The role of melatonin and carnosine in prevention of oxidative intestinal injury induced by gamma irradiation in rats
AbstractExposure of biological materials to ionizing irradiation causes accumulation of reactive oxygen species. The current study aimed to investigate whether melatonin or carnosine could provide protection against irradiation-induced small intestinal damage. Forty Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups. Melatonin, carnosine, and combination of carnosine and melatonin were injected into rats in the third, fourth, and fifth groups, respectively. Rats were injected three times every 48 hours. All groups, excluding the control group, were exposed to a dose of 8 Gray whole body gamma irradiation one hour after the second injection. It was determined that irradiation caused degenerative changes in the intestinal tissues, reduced PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) -positive cell number, and increased caspase-3- and TNF-