Immunomodulatory effect of melatonin on the offspring of rats exposed to alcohol during gestation and lactation

This study investigated the immunomodulatory effect of melatonin on the thymus and spleen of offspring from dams exposed to alcohol consumption during pregnancy and lactation. Alcohol (3 g/kg) and melatonin (0.8 mg/kg) were administered from pregnancy confirmation until the end of lactation. For the experiment, three groups of Wistar rats were formed: Control – Offspring not subjected to alcohol; Alcohol – Offspring exposed to alcohol; Alcohol + Melatonin – Offspring exposed to both alcohol and melatonin. Histological and morphometric analyzes showed that the spleen of the alcohol group showed an increase in the number of hematopoietic cells and a significant reduction in the white pulp, as well as the thymus of this group revealed a reduction in the thymic area, these changes were not observed in the alcohol+mel groups and control. The organosomatic index of these organs also revealed a significant reduction only in the alcohol group. In immunohistochemistry, the alcohol+mel and control groups exhibited weak IL-1β staining and a low apoptotic index in the thymus and spleen when compared to the alcohol group. Thus, we conclude that the administration of melatonin simultaneously with alcohol consumption during pregnancy and lactation can protect the thymus and spleen of the offspring of alcoholic mothers from damage caused by increased oxidative stress.