Melatonin and its effect on obesity and metabolic factors in fructose fed rats

The Obesity and metabolic diseases appears to have emerged largely and epidemically because of changes in our diet and life style. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of melatoninon plasma glucose، uric acid، insulin، HOMA، body weight gain and Liver and kidney histology in fructose fed rats. In this experimental study، 24 male Wistar rats were used. Animals were divided in three groups containing 8 rats each: *Control that received normal chow and tap water. ** Fructose، that received chow +10% fructose solutions in drinking water. *** Melatonin، that received chow +10% fructose solution+ daily injection of 10 mg/kg (BW) melatonin (IP=Intraperitoneal). Melatonin was dissolved in absolute ethanol and diluted with saline. After 8 weeks at the end of treatment plasma concentrations ofglucose، uric acid، insulin and body weight gain were measured and insulin resistance index was calculated. Then the experimental data were significantly analyzed. Fructose fed rats showed significant higher level of body weight in compared with control rats but melatonin treatment prevented from this increase. Insulin resistance index did not changed significantly. Uric acid concentration did not change in groups، but melatonin administration increased plasma glucose level. Fructose fed rats had Hepato Cellular Lipids، compared with control and melatonin groups. Kidney tissue did not change in groups. These results suggest that melatonin may act as a regulator of body weight and may prevent lipid accumulation in liver tissue.