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The effect of taurine in protecting biomembrane against oxygen radicals was investigated using canine erythrocytes. 2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH), a water-soluble azo-compound, was used as the oxygen-radical generator. Taurine suppressed erythrocyte hemolysis more effectively than alpha-alanine, used for comparison. To clarify the relationship to the lipid peroxidation, the amount of lipid peroxide was measured using liposomes prepared with egg yolk lecithin. However, the peroxidation was not suppressed by taurine. When intact erythrocytes were subjected to hemolysis by hyposmotic solutions, taurine suppressed the osmotic hemolysis more effectively than alpha-alanine. These results suggest that taurine does not have an antioxidative effect like vitamin E, but interacts with the biomembrane, and helps to protect it against damage caused by AAPH.

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