Pharmacodynamic evaluation of the effects of oral melatonin on expression of the T-cell cytokines interleukin-2 and interferon gamma in the dog.

Objective: To determine the effects of exogenous melatonin administration on activated whole blood expression of the T-cell cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon gamma (INF-γ) in dogs.

Animals: Ten healthy dogs.

Procedures: Heparinized whole blood was collected from 10 dogs for analysis of cytokine expression before administration of melatonin (baseline).