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On the mechanisms of melatonin in protection of aluminum phosphide cardiotoxicity

  • Molecular Toxicology
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A Letter to the Editor, News and Views to this article was published on 21 July 2017

Abstract

Aluminum phosphide (AlP), one of the most commonly used pesticides worldwide, has been the leading cause of self-poisoning mortalities among many Asian countries. The heart is the main organ affected in AlP poisoning. Melatonin has been previously shown to be beneficial in reversing toxic changes in the heart. The present study reveals evidence on the probable protective effects of melatonin on AlP-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. The study groups included a control (almond oil only), ethanol 5% (solvent), sole melatonin (50 mg/kg), AlP (16.7 mg/kg), and 4 AlP + melatonin groups which received 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg/kg of melatonin by intraperitoneal injections following AlP treatment. An electronic cardiovascular monitoring device was used to record the electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters. Heart tissues were studied in terms of oxidative stress biomarkers, mitochondrial complexes activities, ADP/ATP ratio and apoptosis. Abnormal ECG records as well as declined heart rate and blood pressure were found to be related to AlP administration. Based on the results, melatonin was highly effective in controlling AlP-induced changes in the study groups. Significant improvements were observed in the activities of mitochondrial complexes, oxidative stress biomarkers, the activities of caspases 3 and 9, and ADP/ATP ratio following treatment with melatonin at doses of 40 and 50 mg/kg. Our results indicate that melatonin can counteract the AlP-induced oxidative damage in the heart. This is mainly done by maintaining the normal balance of intracellular ATP as well as the prevention of oxidative damage. Further research is warranted to evaluate the possibility of using melatonin as an antidote in AlP poisoning.

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Acknowledgements

This study was in part supported by a Grant from TUMS coded 94-04-33-30892. The authors wish to thank INSF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Hossein Asghari, Hamed Haghi Aminjan, Seyed Nasser Ostad & Mohammad Abdollahi

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

    Mohammad Hossein Asghari & Ali Akbar Moghadamnia

  3. Student Research Committee, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Milad Moloudizargari

  4. Toxicology and Diseases Group, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1417614411, Iran

    Maryam Baeeri, Mahban Rahimifard, Shokoufeh Hassani & Mohammad Abdollahi

  5. Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

    Amir Baghaei

  6. Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization of Iran, Hamedan, Iran

    Reza Solgi

  7. Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran

    Abbas Jafari

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  1. Mohammad Hossein Asghari
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Contributions

MA gave the idea, AAM, and SNO were advisors; MHA did the study and participated in the literature search and drafted the article; MM participated in drafting and editing the article. MB, AJ, MR, HH, SH AB, and RS helped in performing the experimental part of the study. All authors were involved in data analysis and interpretation. MA supervised whole study. All authors read and approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Mohammad Abdollahi.

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Asghari, M.H., Moloudizargari, M., Baeeri, M. et al. On the mechanisms of melatonin in protection of aluminum phosphide cardiotoxicity. Arch Toxicol 91, 3109–3120 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-017-1998-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-017-1998-6

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