Effects of combination of melatonin and dexamethasone on acute lung injury in a mice model of carrageenan-induced pleurisy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of combination therapy with melatonin and dexamethasone (DEX) on acute lung injury. In particular, we investigated the effects of combination therapy in animal models of acute lung inflammation (carrageenan-induced pleurisy). Injection of carrageenan into the pleural cavity of rats elicited an acute inflammatory response characterized by fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity which contained a large number of neutrophils [polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)] as well as an infiltration of PMN in lung tissues and subsequent lipid peroxidation, and increased production of nitrite/nitrate (NOx), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).