Abstract
Taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, occurs at high concentrations in the skin, and plays a role in maintaining the homeostasis of the skin. We investigated the effects of aging on the content and localization of taurine in the skin of mice and rats. Taurine was extracted from the skin samples of hairless mice and Sprague Dawley rats, and the taurine content of the skin was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results of the investigation revealed that the taurine content in both the dermis and epidermis of hairless mice declined significantly with age. Similar age-related decline in the skin taurine content was also observed in rats. In contrast, the taurine content in the sole remained unchanged with age. An immunohistochemical analysis also revealed a decreased skin taurine content in aged animals compared with younger animals, although no significant differences in the localization of taurine were observed between the two age groups. Supplementation of the drinking water of aged mice with 3% (w/v) taurine for 4 weeks increased the taurine content of the epidermis, but not the dermis. The present study showed for the first time that the taurine content of the skin decreased with age in mice and rats, which may be related to the impairment of the skin homeostasis observed with aging. The decreased taurine content of the epidermis in aged animals was able to be rescued by taurine supplementation.
Highlights
Taurine (2-aminomethylsulfonic acid) is a sulfur-containing amino acid that occurs in abundance in mammalian tissues
The present study clearly demonstrated a decrease of the taurine content of the skin with age in both hairless mice and rats
The present study confirmed that the skin taurine content decreased with age
Summary
Taurine (2-aminomethylsulfonic acid) is a sulfur-containing amino acid that occurs in abundance in mammalian tissues. Taurine is widely recognized as being involved in various biological and physiological processes in the body, through exerting basic effects, such as osmoregulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, membrane stabilizing, and Ca2+ mobilizing activities (Huxtable 1992; Schaffer et al 2000, 2003). It is thought to be an important substance for maintaining whole-body homeostasis. Decline in the tissue content of taurine may cause impairment of organ functions. The main function of the skin is to protect the body against mechanical traumas, pathogens, radiation, and excessive water loss. The skin consists of three layers: the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue.
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