The effect of melatonin on shock wave induced renal damage

Objective In a prospective randomized study, the effects of a potent endogenous free radical scavenger melatonin on extracorporeal-shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) induced renal impairment were studied. Method An experimental study was performed in 30 rabbits. The animals were divided into two groups. Both groups were exposed to 3000 shock waves at 18 kV. The animals in the first group were treated with melatonin for eight days. Controls and melatonin treated rabbits were sacrificed a week after ESWL. The activities of the two principal antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathion peroxidase (GPx) were determined. And also, the level of malondialdehite (MDA) which is the product of lipid peroxidation was measured in the kidney tissue. Results The mean activities of SOD and GPx were significantly lower in the melatonin treated group than in the controls. Also the mean level of MDA was significantly lower in the melatonin treated group as compared to the controls. Conclusion Our results indicate that melatonin may exibit a protective effect on free radical-mediated oxidative damage induced by ESWL in rabbit kidney.