Comparative Investigation of the Effects of Adenosine Triphosphate and Agomelatine Against Acrolein-Induced Oxidative and Inflammatory Lung Injury in Rats

Background and Objective: Acrolein-induced tissue damage has been attributed to oxidative stress and inflammation. This study aimed to determine the effects of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and agomelatine, two substances known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, separately and in combination, on possible acrolein-induced lung damage in rats. Materials and Methods: There were 30 albino Wistar rats divided into five groups of six: Healthy (HG), acrolein (AC), ATP+acrolein (ATAC), agomelatine+acrolein (AGAC) and ATP+agomelatine+acrolein (AAAC). The dose of ATP administered intraperitoneally was 4 mg/kg and the dose of agomelatine administered orally was 25 mg/kg. An oral dose of acrolein 3 mg/kg was given 1 hr following the administration of ATP and agomelatine. For 30 days, the treatment protocol was followed once a day. Afterwards, the rats were euthanized and their lungs were removed. Oxidants, antioxidants and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured in lung tissues. Results: In lung tissues, acrolein increased malondialdehyde, nuclear factor kappa, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6 levels and decreased total glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase levels (p<0.001). The ATP+agomelatine, ATP and agomelatine treatments were the most effective at preventing these biochemical changes, respectively (p<0.001). As a result, the biochemical data of the HG and AAAC groups were similar (p>0.05). Conclusion: It could be suggested that both ATP and agomelatine might be effective against the pneumotoxic effects of acrolein, though a combination therapy would be more effective.