Velyka A. Ya. Haidychuk K. I., Davydova N. V., Salekhi M. D., Kropelnytska Yu. V.

EFFECT OF MELATONIN ON CARBOHYDRATE AND LIPID METABOLISM IN RATS UNDER ALLOXAN DIABETES COMBINED WITH CONSTANT ILLUMINATION

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About the author:

Velyka A. Ya. Haidychuk K. I., Davydova N. V., Salekhi M. D., Kropelnytska Yu. V.

Heading:

CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE

Type of article:

Scientific article

Annotation:

Diabetes mellitus (DM) combined with circadian rhythm disruption caused by constant illumination represents a clinically relevant and increasingly prevalent comorbid condition. Melatonin, the principal pineal hormone, is a potent antioxidant and metabolic regulator whose endogenous synthesis is severely suppressed under conditions of continuous light exposure. The extent to which exogenous melatonin can correct the compounded metabolic disturbances in this combined model remains insufficiently studied. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of exogenous melatonin on indices of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in the blood of rats with alloxan-induced diabetes under conditions of equinox photoperiod and constant illumination. The study was conducted on 40 male Wistar rats distributed into 5 groups (n=8): intact control; alloxan diabetes (AD); AD + melatonin (5 mg/kg, intragastrically for 14 days); AD combined with constant light (CL, 1500 lux, 24 h/ day); AD+CL + melatonin. Alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered after 24-hour fasting. Plasma glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), total lipids, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and phospholipids were measured using validated colorimetric and enzymatic methods on day 15. It was revealed that alloxan diabetes under equinox conditions produced significant hyperglycaemia, elevated HbA1c (2.53 times), total lipids (by 86%), cholesterol (by 61%), triglycerides (by 58%), LDL-C (by 93%), NEFA (by 106%), and reduced phospholipids (by 42.5%). Constant light potentiated all abnormalities: elevation of glucose by 179%, HbA1c 2.94 times, total lipids by 127%, LDL-C by 112%, NEFA by 126%, and phospholipids reduction by 55%; the LDL/HDL atherogenic ratio rose from 1.22 (control) to 2.98. Melatonin administration normalised fasting glycaemia, restored total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids to control values in both diabetic groups, and reduced NEFA and LDL-C toward control levels, with a more pronounced residual deviation in the AD+CL+MT group. Thus, constant illumination significantly aggravates alloxan-induced disruption of carbohydrate and lipid homeostasis in rats. Exogenous melatonin (5 mg/kg, 14 days) demonstrates pronounced hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects, largely normalising the metabolic profile in both the standard and the photoperiod-disrupted diabetic models. These findings support the potential use of melatonin as a corrective agent in diabetes mellitus associated with circadian desynchronosis.

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Bibliography:

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Publication of the article:

«Bulletin of problems biology and medicine», 2026 Issue 3, 182, 236-240 pages, index UDC 616.379-008.64:547.944+577.125]:615.357.357

DOI:

10.29254/2077-4214-2026-3-182-236-240