Atrophic Cardiac Remodeling Induced by Taurine Deficiency in Wistar Rats

Abstract

IntroductionMicronutrient deficiency is observed in heart failure patients. Taurine, for example, represents 50% of total free amino acids in the heart, and in vivo studies have linked taurine deficiency with cardiomyopathy.MethodsThirty-four male Wistar rats (body weight = 100 g) were weighed and randomly assigned to one of two groups: Control (C) or taurine-deficient (T (-)). Beta-alanine at a concentration of 3% was added to the animals’ water to induce taurine deficiency in the T (-) group. On day 30, the rats were individually submitted to echocardiography; morphometrical and histopathological evaluation and metalloproteinase activity, oxidative stress and inflammation evaluation were performed. Tissue samples were collected to determine the taurine concentration in the heart.ResultsTaurine deficiency led to decreases in: ventricular wall thickness, left ventricle dry weight, myocyte sectional area, left ventricle posterior wall thickness and ventricular geometry. With regard to heart function, the velocity of the A wave, the ratio between the E and A wave, the ejection fraction, fractional shortening and cardiac output values were decreased in T (-) rats, suggesting abnormal diastolic and systolic function. Increased fibrosis, inflammation and increased activation of metalloproteinases were not observed. Oxidative stress was increased in deficient animals.ConclusionsThese data suggest that taurine deficiency promotes structural and functional cardiac alterations with unique characteristics.

Taurine Rescues Cisplatin-Induced Muscle Atrophy In Vitro: A Morphological Study

“…Tau has been reported to have a wide developmental potential and cytoprotective functions in skeletal muscle where it is delivered by Tau transporter (Tau T) [ 45 ]. Indeed in TauT-knockout rodents, several cardiac and skeletal muscle alterations occurred [ 46 , 47 ] while Tau T expression was effective against dexamethasone-induced atrophy in vitro [ 48 ]. Tau was able to prevent oxidative damage, ER stress, and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes [ 49 , 50 ] and we recently reported that Tau rescued CisPt apoptosis in renal cells by inducing autophagy and limiting ER stress [ 16 ].…”

The Role of Taurine in Mitochondria Health: More Than Just an Antioxidant

“…Similarly, pharmacological inhibition of taurine transport using β-alanine or GES in both in vitro and in vivo studies resulted in significant pathological conditions, which include atrophic cardiac remodeling [ 126 , 139 , 140 ], oxidative stress [ 141 , 142 ], increased apoptosis [ 143 ], mitochondrial defects [ 83 , 84 ] and altered cardiac cell morphology [ 144 ], as well as loss of retinal ganglion cells that lead to retinopathy [ 128 ]. All these studies clearly demonstrated the importance of taurine as a cytoprotective agent with multiple physiological functions.…”

Development of a method for simultaneous analysis of caffeine and taurine in energy drinks by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with diode-array detector

“…Taurine is a free amino acid which plays a fundamental role in the human body by absorbing fats, protecting the heart and acting as an antioxidant (Alzawqari et al, 2016;Catharino et al, 2011;Giles et al, 2012;Goron & Moinard, 2018;Heidari et al, 2016;Mele et al, 2019;Pansani et al, 2012;Pereira et al, 2012;Rai et al, 2016;Wen et al, 2019). Regarding toxicity, it is generally well accepted by the body, without any adverse physiological effects.…”