Melatonin's gastroprotective and antistress roles involve both central and peripheral effects

Systemic administration of melatonin (5 to 20 mg/kg) has been reported to inhibit the induction of acute gastric mucosal lesions by stress or ischemia-reperfusion in rats. We recently demonstrated that intracisternal (i.c.) melatonin at low doses (1 to 100 ng) dose-dependently decreased acid and pepsin outputs in rats. The aim of the present study was to further investigate the peripheral and central roles of melatonin in gastric mucosal...