Melatonin alleviates chronic intermittent hypoxia-induced gastric mucosal injury via attenuation of oxidative stress and JNK-mediated apoptotic signaling in rats

Abstract

Background To investigate the mechanism of chronic intermittent hypoxia on gastric injury in rats and the intervening effect and possible mechanism of melatonin. Methods Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control, intermittent hypoxia, and melatonin treatment groups. Subgroups (n = 4 per time point) were treated for 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Gastric tissue morphology, gastric juice pH, pepsin levels, oxidative stress markers (MDA and SOD), and the expression of JNK and apoptosis-related genes (Bax, Bcl-2) were assessed. Results The intermittent hypoxia group exhibited significant gastric mucosal damage, decreased pH, increased pepsin, elevated MDA, reduced SOD, and upregulation of JNK and Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA ratio. Melatonin treatment markedly alleviated these pathological and molecular changes compared to the intermittent hypoxia group ( P  < 0.05). Conclusion Chronic intermittent hypoxia induces gastric mucosal injury, which is associated with oxidative stress imbalance and activation of JNK-mediated apoptotic signaling. Melatonin exerts a protective effect by enhancing antioxidant capacity and suppressing the JNK-Bax/Bcl-2 pathway.