Preventive effect of melatonin on the progression of carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in rats.

We examined the preventive effect of melatonin on the progression of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury in rats. In rats injected with CCl4 (1.0 ml/kg body weight), liver injury appeared 6 h after the injection and progressed at 24 h. This liver injury progression was prevented by treatment with melatonin (50 or 100 mg/kg body weight), which was conducted 6 h after CCl4 injection. An increase in liver lipid peroxide content and a decrease in liver reduced glutathione content occurred with the liver injury progression. These changes were prevented by the post-treatment of melatonin (50 or 100 mg/kg body weight). These results indicate that melatonin can prevent the progression of CCl4-induced acute liver injury through its antioxidant action.