Table 3.

Effect of treatment with melatonin on brain antiapoptotic marker (Bcl-2) and neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in ovariectomized and Al-intoxicated ovariectomized rats

Groups	Parameters
	Bcl-2 (ng/mg protein)	BDNF (pg/mg protein)
Gonad intact control	1.15 × 10−1 ± 5.74 × 10−3	88.26 ± 3.31
Ovx control	6.90 × 10−2 ± 3.00 × 10−3a (−40.00 %)	62.38 ± 3.15a (−29.32 %)
Ovx + melatonin	8.95 × 10−2 ± 3.39 × 10−3b (29.71 %)	75.15 ± 3.12b (20.47 %)
Al-intoxicated control	5.82 × 10−2 ± 3.70 × 10−3b (−15.57 %)	45.50 ± 2.49b (−27.05 %)
Ovx + Al + melatonin	8.05 × 10−2 ± 4.06 × 10−3c (38.19 %)	64.61 ± 2.87c (42.00 %)

Data are represented as Mean ± SE (10 rats/group)

Ovx ovariectomized

^asignificant change at p < 0.05 in comparison with gonad intact control group

^bsignificant change at p < 0.05 in comparison with ovariectomized control group

^csignificant change at p < 0.05 in comparison with Al-intoxicated control group

(%) percent of difference with respect to corresponding control value