Melatonin attenuates polychlorinated biphenyls induced apoptosis in the neuronal cells of cerebral cortex and cerebellum of adult male rats—In vivo

•PCBs show memory deficits and sensory, motor disorders.•PCBs exposure leads to neuronal death.•PCBs induces neuronal apoptosis via ROS.•Melatonin scavenges ROS protects from neuronal apoptosis.•Antiapoptotic action of melatonin may reside in its antioxidant property.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are widespread persistent environmental contaminants that display a complex spectrum of toxicological properties, including neurotoxicity. Studies have shown that PCBs increase oxidative stress in brain, leading to apoptosis. The progressive loss of neurons in cerebral cortex and cerebellum, leads to various neurodegenerative diseases. Hence the present study is designed to determine PCBs toxicity toward neuronal cells and whether it could be inhibited by potent antioxidant melatonin. Four groups of adult male Wistar rats were treated for 30 days with corn oil, PCBs, PCBs + Mel and Melatonin, respectively. After treatment period the rats were euthanized and the brain was dissected to isolate cerebral cortex and cerebellum. The neuronal cells alone were then separated from the isolated brain regions, to detect the mRNA levels of apoptotic and neurofilament gene, a neuronal specific marker. Our results suggests that PCBs induces apoptosis in neuronal cells which is subsided by the anti apoptotic effect of melatonin.