The protective effect of melatonin against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative damage was examined in vitro. Lung, liver, and brain malonaldehyde (MDA) plus 4-hydroxyalkenals (4-HDA) concentrations were measured as indices of induced membrane peroxidative damage. Homogenates of brain, lung, and liver were incubated with LPS at concentrations of either 1, 10, 50, 200, or 400 micrograms/ml for 1 h and, in another study, LPS at a concentration of 400 micrograms/ml for either 0, 15, 30, or 60 min. Melatonin at increasing concentrations from 0.01-3 mM either alone or together with LPS (400 micrograms/ml) was used. Liver, brain, and lung MDA + 4-HDA levels increased after LPS at concentrations of 10, 50, 200 or 400 micrograms/ml; this effect was concentration-dependent. The highest levels of lipid peroxidation products were observed after tissues were incubated with an LPS concentration of 400 micrograms/ml for 60 min; in liver and lung this effect was totally suppressed by melatonin and partially suppressed in brain in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, melatonin alone was effective in brain at concentrations of 0.1 to 3 mM, in lung at 2 to 3 mM, and in liver at 0.1 to 3 mM; in all cases, the inhibitory effects of melatonin on lipid peroxidation were always directly correlated with the concentration of melatonin in the medium. The results show that the direct effect of LPS on the lipid peroxidation following endotoxin exposure is markedly reduced by melatonin.