Effects of systemic and regional taurine on skeletal muscle function following ischaemia–reperfusion injury

Abstract

Introduction: Tissues subjected to prolonged ischaemia are paradoxically further damaged when their perfusion is restored. The mechanisms underlying this ischaemia-reperfusion injury are complex, but oxidative attack is a central feature. Among the therapeutic agents used to attenuate ischaemia-reperfusion injury, endogenous agents such as taurine which form part of the native defence mechanism against oxidative damage are of particular interest.Methods: Using a model of hindlimb ischaemia-reperfusion injury in the rat, taurine solution was administered either into the operated hindlimb, into the systemic circulation, or both. Contraction strengths of gastrocnemius biopsies from the operated and contralateral (control) hindlimbs of each animal were measured.Results: Fast twitch strength was impaired significantly by ischaemia-reperfusion injury, and taurine injected into the operated limb conferred partial protection. A similar trend was observed for tetany, but protection by taurine was not statistically significant for tetanic contraction strength.Conclusion: Preservation of fast twitch strength following ischaemia-reperfusion injury by administration of taurine before ischaemia has clinical potential. However, delivery to the affected tissues during ischaemia presents technical difficulties.

Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

“…As far as blocking the effects of ROS are concerned, recombinant superoxide dismutase, an enzyme that detoxifies O 2 j , has shown promise in some animal models of reperfusion injury, but it was ineffective in others. 6,12,33 Other agents that have been tried include catalase, vitamin C, E coenzyme Q10, 34 caffeic acid phenyl ester, 35 taurine, 36 zinc aspartate, 37 melatonin, 6,38 and others, but results have been inconsistent.…”

“…The clinical situations relevant to this phase include microvascular anastomosis for replantation or free tissue transfer: -Allopurinol, recombinant superoxide dismutase, catalase, vitamin C, E, coenzyme Q10, 6 caffeic acid phenyl ester, 36 taurine, 37 zinc aspartate, 48 melatonin, 6,38 desferrioxamine, and N-acetylcysteine, 57 all reactive oxygen radical scavengers and enzymatic modulators have proven inconsistent in survival outcomes. However, the use of these or alternative ROS neutralizers would be logical just before, at the time or shortly after reperfusion and further exploration of these modalities is warranted.…”

Update on Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury for the Plastic Surgeon

“…To eliminate reactive oxygen species, numerous antioxidants have been investigated such as Tempol (Fluka Chemie GmbH, Buchs, Switzerland), 41 coenzyme Q10, 42 caffeic acid phenyl ester, 43 Phlogenzym (Mucos Pharma GmbH and Co., Geretsried, Germany), 44 extracellular superoxide dismutase, 45 taurine, 46 zinc aspartate, 47 melatonin, 6,48,49 and others. To eliminate reactive oxygen species, numerous antioxidants have been investigated such as Tempol (Fluka Chemie GmbH, Buchs, Switzerland), 41 coenzyme Q10, 42 caffeic acid phenyl ester, 43 Phlogenzym (Mucos Pharma GmbH and Co., Geretsried, Germany), 44 extracellular superoxide dismutase, 45 taurine, 46 zinc aspartate, 47 melatonin, 6,48,49 and others.…”

Animal products, diseases and drugs: a plea for better integration between agricultural sciences, human nutrition and human pharmacology

“…These nutrients can because of their antioxidant properties protect against tissue damage caused by ischemia and reperfusion [154,252,255,272-277] (in which respect they may very likely interact synergistically with each other, even if such interactions may still not have been much systematically studied either through animal experiments or clinical trials), and also against oxidative and nitrative stress-mediated tissue damage caused by severe infectious diseases, like hypervirulent avian influenza [90,122,154]. Some of them (if not all?)…”