The Effects of Agomelatine Treatment on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Septic Lung Injuries in Rats

OBJECTIVE: We designed an experimental model of sepsis in rats to investigate the effects of agomelatine (AGO) on lung tissues using molecular and histopathological methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our experimental model, the 32 rats were divided into 4 groups: group 1: control group (HEALTHY); group 2: lipopolysaccharide group (LPS); group 3: LPS plus 50 mg/kg AGO group (LPS + AGO50); and group 4: LPS plus 100 mg/kg AGO group (LPS + AGO100). An LPS-induced sepsis model was performed to replicate the pathology of sepsis. Rats from all 4 groups were killed after 12 hours, and their lungs were quickly collected. To investigate the therapeutic strategy, we evaluated tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) messenger RNA expressions by real-time polymerase chain reaction using molecular methods and lung tissue damage indicators using histopathological methods. RESULTS: The expressions of TNF-α and NF-κB were reduced in the groups treated with AGO. The histopathology results supported the molecular results. CONCLUSION: In this experimental study, we demonstrated for the first time the positive effects of AGO on LPS-induced sepsis in lung tissue using molecular and histopathological methods, indicating that it contributes to the prevention of lung damage.