Objective: 

There are few studies about interaction of melatonin and peripheral parasympathetic nerves in ischemia / reperfusion (I / R) injury of the stomach that often occurs in surgical pathology.The objective of this study was to assess the interaction of melatonin and vagus nerve in stomach I/R.

Methods: 

In this study,rats were randomly divided into 7 groups.Celiac artery ischemia for 30 minutes was followed by 3 h perfusion.Cervical vagus nerve was cut on both sides of the neck and in the other group the right cervical vagus nerve was stimulated by stimulator and in therapeutic group,melatonin,or vehicle was injected ip.

Results: 

Vagus nerve stimulation in ischemia - reperfusion significantly (p <0.001) increases gastritis and melatonin administration in ischemia-reperfusion + vagus nerve stimulation significantly (p <0.001) reduces gastritis. Results show that malondialdehyde in gastric tissue in I/R + vagus nerve stimulation significantly (p <0.001) increased and melatonin administration significantly reduced (p <0.001) malondialdehyde activity levels. Superoxide dismutase in vagus nerve stimulation significantly (P <0.01) compared to I/R decreased and melatonin administration in vagus nerve stimulation + I/R significantly (p <0.001) was increased. Catalase levels in vagus nerve stimulation +I/R group, significantly compared to I/R increased (p <0.01) and also melatonin administration caused increase (p <0.001). Glutathione peroxidase, vagus nerve stimulation group+I/R significantly compared to I/R increased (p <0.01) and with melatonin administration compared with ischemia / reperfusion significantly increased (p<0.001).

Conclusions: 

This study showed that gastric ulcer healing and antioxidant enzyme activity by melatonin has a cholinergic action and is mediated by acetylcholine.