^{Animal Studies With Taurine}  

Anxiety Reduced: taurine produces an anxiolytic-like effect in these animal models and may act as a modulator or anti-anxiety agent in the central nervous system. Kong WX. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2006 Mar 13

Bladder: Tuarine Protects Against protamine sulfate induced bladder damage. Zeybek A, et al. Kocaeli University, Turkey. World J Urol 2006 Jul 19.

Brain: Taurine Protected Rats Against Lead: A rat study found evidence that taurine could improve learning and memory ability of rats exposed to lead and may play a protective role in brain. Hu JD, et al, Huazhong University, Wuhan, China. Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 2003 Dec;21(6):413-6

Brain: Taurine Protects Rat Hippocampus From Oxidative Damage: Animals treated with 3-nitropropionic acid have lipid peroxidation levels and astrocytic damage in the hippocampus. Taurine, vitamin C, and vitamin E partially protected from oxidative damage, but only taurine showed morphological protection in surviving cells. Rodriguez-Martinez E, et al, Universidad Nacional Autonoma, de Mexico. Int J Neurosci. 2004 Sep;114(9):1133-45.

Brain: Taurine Prevents Damage From ACN is a toxic liquid used to make synthetic rubber, styrene plastics, acrylic fiber and adhesives. It is a potent oxidant, neurotoxin and carcinogen, which produces tumors in rats, particularly gliomas of the brain. Mahalakshmi K, et al, Tamil Nadu, India. Pol J Pharmacol. 11/2003;55(6):1037-43.

Diabetes: Taurine prevents collagen abnormalities in high fructose-fed rats. Therefore, might help diabetes-2 secondary damage. Nandhini AT, et al. Annamalai University, India.  

Diabetes Helped: Oral glycine administration attenuates diabetic complications in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Alvarado-Vasquez N, et al. Life Sci 2006 Feb 13.

Diabetes: Taurine Helps Rat Diabetes: Taurine (5%, w/w) but not vitamin E decreased mortality rate (p < 0.04) in rats given diabetes. Taurine significantly decreased glycemia, but vitamin E was ineffective. No correlation between glycemia and survival was found. Di Leo MA, et al, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. Amino Acids. 2004 Oct;27(2):187-91

Diabetes: Taurine Helped Mouse Diabetes: Taurine is important for the development of the endocrine pancreas and reduces cytokine-induced apoptosis in pancreatic beta cells.  In a mouse study of mice genetically prone to develop diabetes, receiving a taurine supplement from the time of conception considerably delayed and in 20% of cases prevented the development of diabetes. Arany E, et al, London, Ontario. Diabetologia. 2004 Oct;47(10):1831-1837

Diabetic Eye Damage in Rats Lessened by Taurine: Oxidative stress seems to be a contributing factor in diabetic retinal alterations. In diabetic rats, 2% and 5% taurine significantly decreased retinal conjugated dienes although the 5% (w/w) reduced it long-term. Di Leo MA, et al, Catholic University, Roma, Italy. Free Radic Res. 2003 Mar;37(3):323-30. Similar findings. Zhonghua Yan Ke Za Zhi. 2003 Oct;39(10):605-9.

Diabetic Neuropathy Helped in Rats: Painful diabetic neuropathy may be the result from neuronal hyperexcitability secondary to alterations of Ca(2+) signaling in sensory neurons. Taurine functions as an osmolyte, antioxidant, Ca(2+) modulator, inhibitory neurotransmitter, and analgesic. Its depletion in diabetes may predispose one to neuronal hyperexcitability and pain. This study with nondiabetic and STZ-D rats found that taurine is important in the regulation of neuronal Ca(2+) signaling. Taurine replacement attenuates hyperalgesia and abnormal calcium signaling in sensory neurons of STZ-D rats. Li F, et al. Univ. of Michigan, Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Jan;288(1):E29-36.

Diabetic Rats Neurological and Neurovascular Deficits Helped: In hyperglycemic Zucker diabetic fatty rats, 56% deficits of motor NCV, sensory NCV and NBF, respectively as well as thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia were reversed by taurine. An 84% deficit of dorsal root ganglion neuron calcitonin gene-related peptide in D rats was prevented by taurine. In summary,  taurine reverses neurological and neurovascular deficits in experimental type 2 diabetes. Taurine reverses neurological and neurovascular deficits in Zucker diabetic fatty rats. Li F, et al. University of Michigan. Neurobiol Dis 2006 Apr 17.

Exercise: Taurine Helps Rat Exercise Tolerance: In a 2-week rat study of the effect of varying doses of taurine on a transient exercise performance, best results, a 25-50% increase in exercise to exhaustion, were obtained between 100 and 500 mg/kg/day. Miyazaki T, et al, Mito, Japan. Amino Acids. 2004 Oct 22

Exercise: Taurine Increases Rat Running Time: 2 week study. J Orthop Sci. 2003;8(3):415-9

Eye: Rat Study Suggests Taurine Supplement Might Help Retina: In a rat study, caloric restriction reduced age-related retinal degeneration. It also reduced the age-related decline in taurine. Li D, et al. Columbia, Kim ES, et al. Dankook University, Seoul, Korea

Heart: Taurine protective against isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction in rats. Shiny KS, et al. Cochin, India. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2005 Oct;57(10):1313-7. Probably via improving myocardial antioxidant status.  

Heart: Reduces Hardening of the Arteries: Retardation of atherosclerosis by taurine in spontaneously hyperlipemic mice may be related to decreases in oxidized substances and increases in serum HDL-C levels. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2003 Apr;30(4):295-9. Fructose-fed rats were more susceptible to peroxidative damage as measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive species. The concentrations of lipid peroxides, diene conjugates, lipofuscin and hydroperoxides were significantly higher. The levels of enzymic antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione and activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly lower in fructose-fed rats. When these rats received taurine in drinking water, peroxidative damage was minimal in both plasma and liver. Indian J Exp Biol. 2002 Sep;40(9):1016-9

Heart: Taurine Protects Rat Aorta From High Cholesterol-Fat Diet: Taurine reduced aortic lesions in rats fed high fat diets. Rats depend on taurine for conjugation of bile acids. Sethupathy S, et al, Annamalai University, India. Indian J Exp Biol. 2002 Oct;40(10):1169-72; 

Heart: Taurine reduces atherosclerotic lesion development in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Kondo Y, et al. Ohmiya, Japan. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2000;483:193-202.

Heart: Atherosclerosis Reduced in Rabbits/LDL Cholesterol in Guinea Pigs: Taurine suppresses development of atherosclerosis in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits. Murakami S, et al. Saitama, Japan. Atherosclerosis. 2002 Jul;163(1):79-87.

Heart: Taurine Improved Cardiovascular Function in Iron-Overload Mice: Iron overload increases oxidative stress and cardiovascular death rates. Taurine accounts for 25% to 50% of the amino acid pool in myocardium, possesses antioxidant properties, and can inhibit L-type Ca2+ channels. Oudit GY, et al, University of Toronto. Circulation. 2004 Apr 20;109(15):1877-85.

Heart Disease: Dog Taurine Deficiency Causing Heart Disease: 12 dogs are reported suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy. All had low taurine blood levels and all were on lamb and rice diets. They were treated successfully with taurine. Fascetti AJ et al. UC Davis. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2003 Oct 15;223(8):1137-41

Heart: 11% of Dogs Taurine Deficient; Lamb-Rice Feed the Cause: Of 131 dogs fed commercial feed, 15 had taurine deficiencies. The lowest levels were with lamb and rice feed. Delaney SJ, et al. UC Davis. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2003 Jun;87(5-6):236-44. Dietary rice bran decreases plasma and whole-blood taurine in cats. Stratton-Phelps M. et al. UC Davis. J Nutr. 2002 Jun;132(6 Suppl 2):1745S-7S

Heart: Dog Taurine Deficiency Common in Small Study: In a prospective study, 12 of 19 Newfoundland dogs were found to be suffering from taurine deficiency. All 12 had been fed lamb and rice diets. No signs of illness were found and the taurine deficiency was reversed by a change in diet or methionine supplementation. Backus RC, et al. UC Davis. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2003 Oct 15;223(8):1130-6. 

Heart: Taurine Protects Rat Heart From Hyperhomocysteinemia Damage:  Myocardial mitochondria dysfunction in the rats with hyperhomocysteinemia induced by diet methionine loading, Taurine antagonized the oxidative stress injury in the myocardial mitochondria induced by the hyperhomocysteinemia. Chang L, et al, Beijing University, Beijing, China. Amino Acids. 2004 Aug;27(1):37-48 

Heart: Taurine Protects Rabbits from High Cholesterol Diet: The extent of atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta was less in the taurine-treated regressed group than in the non-treated regressed group. Balkan J, et al, Istanbul University, Turkey. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2004 May;68(5):1035-9. 

Heart: Taurine Protects Against Enlargement by Blocking Antiotensin II Effects: Taurine has anti-angiotensin II and osmoregulatory activity. When the intracellular content of taurine is dramatically reduced, the heart develops contractile defects and undergoes an eccentric form of hypertrophy. Excessive heart enlargement is due to angiotensin II, whose growth properties are antagonized by taurine Schaffer S, et al. University of South Alabama. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2003 May;41(5):751-

Heart: Taurine Protects Against Isoproterenol-induced Injury: Shi YR, et al. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2002 Oct;23(10):910-8

High Blood Pressure: Taurine Helps Salt-Induced Hypertensive Mice: Hagiwara K, et al, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2003 Jan;41 Suppl 1:S127-31.

High Blood Pressure: Helped in Rat Studies:  In a review, the authors notes that in several rat models of hypertension taurine has helped high blood pressure, among other cardiovascular problems, i.e., the spontaneously hypertensive rat, the DOCA-salt rat, the Dahl-S rat, the renovascular hypertensive rat, the hyperinsulinemic rat and the ethanol-treated rat. Militante JD, Texas Tech. Amino Acids. 2002;23(4):381-93

Kidneys Protected by Taurine in Rat Study: In a study of hypertensive and hypertensive glucose-intolerant rats, both had glomerular filtration rate protected by both taurine and ACE inhibitor enalapril with the combination providing the most protection. Am J Hypertens. 2003 Aug;16(8):673-80

Kidney: Taurine treatment protects the kidney of the unilaterally nephrectomized rat against an age-dependent decline in excretory efficiency. Mozaffari MS, Schaffer SW. Medical College of Georgia. Kidney Int. 2002 May;61(5):1750-9.

Kidney: Protects Kidney and Bladder Against Nicotine/Cisplatin Damage in Rats: Sener G, et al. Marmara University, Turkey. Pharmacology. 2005 Jan 7;74(1):37-44; Protective effect of taurine against renal interstitial fibrosis of rats induced by cisplatin. Sato S, et al. Hakodate, Japan.

Kidney: Contrast-induced nephropathy Prevented by Melatonin: Gazi S, et al. Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey. J Pineal Res 2006 Aug;41(1):53-7.

Liver: Taurine Protects Rat Liver From Alcohol and Carbon Tetrachloride: Liver fibrosis was prevented in rats  given alcohol and carbon tetrachloride by betaine or taurine (1% v/v in drinking water) probably by decreasing oxidative stress. Erman F, et al, Turkey. Amino Acids. 2004 Oct;27(2):199-205.

Liver: Taurine protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury in rabbit livers: Tong L, et al. First Clinical College of Harbin Medical University, China. Transplant Proced 2006 Jun;38(5):1575-9.

Liver: Taurine rescues hippocampal long-term potentiation from ammonia-induced impairment: Chepkova AN, et al. Heinrich-Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany. Neurobiol Dis 2006 Jun 9.

Liver: Protects Against Tamoxifen Toxicity: Taurine protects the integrity of the hepatic tissue by stabilizing the reactive oxygen species mediated lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl formation. It may prove to be efficacious as an antioxidant in tamoxifen-induced hepatotoxicity. Clin chim Acta 2006 Feb 23.

Liver: Taurine Induces Multidrug Resistance Protein 2 and Bile Salt Export Pump Preventing Endotoxin Cholestasis: Rat study. Muhlfeld A, et al, Universitatsklinikum Dusseldorf, Germany.. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2003 May 1;413(1):32-40

Liver: Taurine Protects Rats From Cyclosporine-A Liver Damage: The protective effect of taurine against cyclosporine A-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in rats probably through an anti-oxidant process. Hagar HH, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Toxicol Lett. 2004 Jul 15;151(2):335-43.  

Lung: Taurine Reduces Lung Inflammation and Fibrosis Caused by Bleomycin Adv Exp Med Biol. 2003;526:395-402 

Pancreatitis: Taurine May Help: Taurine given intraperitoneally at a concentration of 1000 mg/kg to rats with pancreatic fibrosis lowered weight loss (P < 0.002). Tissue malondialdehyde levels increased and superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities decreased significantly after treatment as well (P < 0.001). Histopathologic scores were also lower in taurine-treated animals with CP (P < 0.005). Antioxidant treatment with taurine ameliorates chronic pancreatitis in an experimental rat model. Mas MR, et al. Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Pancreas 2006 Jul;33(1):77-81.

Seizures: Taurine Increased Seizures in Mice in One Study, But Usually Helps: Four weeks taurine-fed mice showed increased susceptibility to KA-induced seizures, as demonstrated by a decreased latency for clonic seizures, an increased incidence and duration of tonic-clonic seizures, increased neuronal death in the CA3 region of the hippocampus and a higher post-seizure mortality of the animals. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2003;526:515-25; Seizure-like brain activity in vitro was suppressed by taurine. Epilepsia. 2003 Sep;44(9):1145-52.; Taurine deficient rats are more prone to seizures. Neuropharmacology. 1987 Dec;26(12):1721-5.; Taurine inhibited opioid seizures in rats and wet dog shakes. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1987;217:227-35; And spontaneous epilepsy in cats. Nippon Juigaku Zasshi. 1986 Oct;48(5):1041-3

Stomach: Ulcers: Misoprostol and taurine each very protective against monochloramine ulcerogenesis in rats. Spasov AA, et al. Volgograd State Medical University. Bull 2006 Mar;141(3):334-6.

Stomach: Alendronate Damage Prevented: Alendronate (ALD) causes serious gastrointestinal adverse effects. Chronic oral administration to rats of ALD induced significant gastric damage, increasing lipid peroxidation, MPO activity and collagen content, as well as decreasing tissue GSH levels. Treatment with taurine prevented the damage and also the changes in biochemical parameters. ALD induces oxidative gastric damage by a local irritant effect, and that taurine ameliorates this damage by its antioxidant and/or membrane-stabilizing effects. Sener G, et al. Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2005 Feb;19(1):93-100.

Stroke: Damage Reduced: Middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced for 2h in rats, and the brain tissue was then reperfused. Both pre- (200 mg/kg) and post-treatment of taurine decreased the neurology deficit score, infarct volume and brain water content. Taurine post-treatment (67, 200 and 600 mg/kg) showed a dose-dependent neuroprotective effect. Taurine significantly decreased neuronal loss in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, and reduced the expression of caspase-3 as well. The neuroprotective effect of taurine was partly blunted by strychnine or bicuculline alone, and almost completely blocked by coapplication of both antagonists of glycine and GABA(A) receptors. These results imply a potential therapeutic use of taurine for stroke. Neuroprotective effect of taurine against focal cerebral ischemia in rats possibly mediated by activation of both GABA(A) and glycine receptors. Wang GH, et al. Nantong University, Jiangsu, China. Neuropharm 2007 Mar 24.

Thomas E. Radecki, M.D., J.D.

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