Melatonin Prevents the Development of Age-Related Pathology in Male Rats during Accelerated Aging Caused by Impaired Photoperiodism

The purpose of the work was to study the role of melatonin in the development of age-related pathology and morbidity in male rats under model conditions of accelerated aging caused by impaired photoperiodism. Circadian-rhythm disruption upon exposure to light at night initiates the development of age-related changes in the body and contributes to the formation of age-associated diseases. The article presents the results of an experimental study showing that the use of melatonin in laboratory animals in various light regimes (standard lighting, natural lighting in northwest Russia, and constant lighting) significantly reduces the number of cases of intravital morbidity (rhinitis, conjunctivitis, pneumonia, otitis media, etc.) and postmortem-detected, age-related pathology (tumors, chronic diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, etc.). Apparently, the immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties of melatonin and its participation in the maintenance of energy homeostasis of the body allows this hormone to perform a universal protective mission in the body—to interfere with pathological processes of any origin.