Effects of omega-aminosulfonic acids on lipid metabolism in dietary hyperlipidemic rats.

Abstract

The effects of 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (taurine) and its structural analogs, 3-aminopropanesulfonic acid (homotaurine) and 4-aminobutanesulfonic acid (ABSA), on lipid metabolism were investigated in rats with dietary hyperlipidemia. The serum cholesterol levels increased approximately five-fold in rats fed a diet containing 0.5% cholesterol and 1% cholic acid for 10 d. omega-Aminosulfonic acids dissolved in water were orally administered for 10 d concurrently with the 0.5% cholesterol diet. Taurine suppressed elevation in serum cholesterol levels by 46.9 and 63.9% at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively. Serum triglycerides levels, however, were not significantly altered by taurine. Both homotaurine and ABSA, 500 mg/kg each, inhibited the elevation in serum cholesterol levels to an extent, namely, 32.0 and 22.3% lower than that of the controls, respectively. Treatment with homotaurine in doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg significantly increased serum triglycerides levels by 37.6 and 35.9%, respectively, and ABSA (500 mg/kg) also revealed a tendency to raise these levels. All the sulfonic acids (500n mg/kg each) reduced cholesterol levels in the liver similarly, while changes in triglycerides levels in the liver were insignificant. Both taurine and homotaurine (t00 mg/kg each) inhibited intestinal absorption of cholesterol. The inhibitory effect of homotaurine was as great as 31.5% and greater than that of taurine. No influence of taurine (500 mg/kg) was observed in lipoprotein lipase activity in the epididymal fat tissue, but the activity did appear to be inhibited by homotaurine (500 mg/kg).