Lipopolysaccharide-induced DNA damage is greatly reduced in rats treated with the pineal hormone melatonin.

The ability of melatonin to influence lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced genotoxicity was tested using micronuclei as an index in both bone marrow and peripheral blood cells of rats. LPS was given as a single dose of 10 mg/kg. Melatonin (5 mg/kg) was injected prior to LPS administration and thereafter at 6 h intervals to the conclusion of the study (72 h). The number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes increased significantly after LPS administration both in cells from peripheral blood and bone marrow. Melatonin administration to LPS-treated rats highly significantly reduced micronuclei formation in both peripheral blood and bone marrow cells beginning at 24 h after LPS administration and continuing to the end of the study. In blood the increase in micronuclei formation was time-dependent in LPS-treated rats with peak values being reached at 36-48 h. The ability of melatonin to reduce LPS-related genotoxicity is likely related to its antioxidant activity.