Experimental data about melatonin effects on platelet count and functional activity

Published on Friday, 02 April 2021

Abstract

There are insufficient data about the effects of melatonin on hemostasis. The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of melatonin and of luzindole, an inhibitor of melatonin receptors MT 1 and MT 2, on the count and functional activity of thrombocytes, as estimated according to the changes in the plasma levels of beta-thromboglobulin (β-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF 4).

The study included 52 white male Wistar rats weighing 200-220 g on a 12/12 h light/dark regimen. Daily doses of melatonin of 0.2 mg/kg b.m. and luzindole of 0.4 mg/kg b.m. were applied. Melatonin was administered s.c. twice daily at intervals of 12 h, for three consecutive days.

The animals were divided into 4 equal groups (n = 13) and injected as follows: group one-with saline, group two-with melatonin, group three -with luzindole, and group four-with luzindole and 1 h later-with melatonin.

The results demonstrated that melatonin significantly increased the thrombocyte count (p < 0.001) and plasma levels of β-TG (p < 0.001) and PF 4 (p < 0.001) known as markers of platelet functional activity. When applied independently, luzindole significantly reduced (p < 0.001) thrombocyte count, β-TG and PF 4, which allowed for the assumption that it probably inhibited the effect of endogenous melatonin to a significant extent. Luzindole pretreatment suppressed the effects of both endogenous and exogenous melatonin.

Melatonin represents an important non-specific regulator of platelet homeostasis. It significantly increases the count and functional activity of thrombocytes, as estimated by means of the plasma concentrations of β-TG and PF 4.

NOTE: This publication mentions (Ref. N.13): Di Bella L, Gualano L (2006). Key aspects of melatonin physiology: thirty years of research. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 27(4): 425–32.

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- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Melatonin tablets. From 30-40mg/day up to 200mg/day orally in patients with advanced stage of cancer disease and/or patients without respond to traditional treatments);

- Melatonin use in cancer patients have started in 1974, when melatonin prepared according to Prof. Di Bella’s formulation [...]. For 11 days was administered to the patient, admitted to the general medical ward at the Maggiore-Pizzardi Hospital in Bologna, very slowly (over approx. 8 hours) and intravenously administered 1000 mg of melatonin for 11 days. During the course of each day, the patient was intravenously administered 4 saline drips of 500 ml, each containing ten 25 mg bottles of freeze-dried melatonin, lasting 2 hours, totaling 1000 mg per day. No other drug of any kind was administered in order to ascertain the effect of the MLT without interference [...]. From Melatonin with adenosine solubilized in water and stabilized with glycine for oncological treatment - technical preparation, effectivity and clinical findings;

- About Melatonin - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;

- Publication: Melatonin anticancer effects: Review (from Di Bella's Foundation);

- Publication: Key aspects of melatonin physiology: 30 years of research (from Di Bella's Foundation);

- The Synergism of Somatostatin, Melatonin, Vitamins Prolactin and Estrogen Inhibitors Increased Survival, Objective Response and Performance Status In 297 Cases of Breast Cancer;

- Complete objective response, stable for 5 years, with the Di Bella Method, of multiple-metastatic carcinoma of the breast;

- Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of the first-line treatment with somatostatin combined with melatonin, retinoids, vitamin D3, and low doses of cyclophosphamide in 20 cases of breast cancer: a preliminary report;

- The Di Bella Method (DBM) improved survival, objective response and performance status in a retrospective observational clinical study on 122 cases of breast cancer;

- Complete objective response to biological therapy of plurifocal breast carcinoma;

- Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme (grade IV – WHO 2007): a case of complete objective response achieved by means of the concomitant administration of Somatostatin and Octreotide – Retinoids – Vitamin E – Vitamin D3 – Vitamin C – Melatonin – D2 R agonists (Di Bella Method – DBM) associated with Temozolomide;

- The Di Bella Method DBM improved survival objective response and performance status in a retrospective observational clinical study on 23 tumours of the head and neck;

- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Long-Lasting Remission with Combination of Cyclophosphamide, Somatostatin, Bromocriptine, Retinoids, Melatonin, and ACTH;

- Somatostatin, retinoids, melatonin, vitamin D, bromocriptine, and cyclophosphamide in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients with low performance status;