A meta-analysis study of melatonin effect on the behavior of rats kept under standard conditions

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Abstract

It is known that the pineal gland hormone melatonin, synthesized during hours of darkness, regulates daily and seasonal changes in metabolism, reproduction and behavior. To date, many experimental studies have been conducted investigating the effects of exogenous melatonin administration on behavior in various tests in rats. The aim of this work is to use meta-analysis to investigate melatonin effects on the behavior of rats kept under standard conditions. We selected 57 publications for meta-analysis that studied melatonin monotherapy: 35 papers with the open field (OF) test, 23 papers with the elevated plus maze (EPM), 12 publications with the forced swim (FS) test, and 21 papers with the Morris pool (MP). The meta-analysis showed that a single peripheral administration of melatonin in low doses (≤ 1 mg/kg/day) increases the locomotor activity of rats in the OF test. Long-term administration of melatonin also contributed to an increase in the locomotor activity of rats. Melatonin has an anxiolytic effect, which is confirmed by an increase in the time spent by rats in the center of the OF test and in the open arms of EPM. A reduction in the immobilization period in the FS test indicates an antidepressant effect of the hormone. The anxiolytic and antidepressant effects were more pronounced in females than in males. No convincing evidence of a dose effect on the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of melatonin was obtained. With melatonin therapy, there was a tendency to increase the time for rats to search for a platform in MP. In most studies, the hormone was administered intraperitoneally, and researchers usually used young animals. For these reasons, we were unable to correctly assess dependence of melatonin effects on the route of administration and the age of rats.

About the authors

N. V. Kuzmenko

Almazov National Medical Research Centre; First Pavlov State Medical University of St. Petersburg

Author for correspondence.
Email: nat.kuzmencko2011@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, St. Petersburg; St. Petersburg

V. A. Tsyrlin

Almazov National Medical Research Centre

Email: nat.kuzmencko2011@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

М. G. Pliss

Almazov National Medical Research Centre

Email: nat.kuzmencko2011@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

М. М. Galagudza

Almazov National Medical Research Centre

Email: nat.kuzmencko2011@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

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