Influence of exogenous taurine addition in amino acid content in brains of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury rats during lactation

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of exogenous taurine (TAU) on amino acid content in the brains of rats suffered hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBD). Methods The 7-day-old SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, control group and TAU treatment group. HIBD models in the later two groups were established following Rice-Vannucci method. On the basis of breastfeeding, TAU at 300 mg/(kg·d) via tube feeding to the TAU treatment group and an equal volume saline solution to the sham-operated group and control group were given. The aspartic acid (ASP), glutamic acid (GLY), glycine (GLY), TAU and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) contents in the rat brains were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography at 48 h and 14 d after HIBD. Results At 48 h after HIBD, the TAU, ASP and GLU contents in the TAU treatment group were significantly increased as compared with those in the control group (P<0.05); the GLU/TAU ratio in the TAU treatment group was significantly decreased as compared with that in the control group (P<0.05). Fourteen d after HIBD, the TAU, GABA and GLY contents were significantly increased, the GLU content was significantly decreased, and the ASP/GLY, GLU/GLY and GLU/TAU ratios were significantly deceased in the TAU treatment group as compared with those in the control group (P< 0.05). Conclusion Exogenous TAU addition during lactation of rats suffered HIBD may improve contents of inhibitory amino acids as TAU, GABA and GLY, and modulate the ratio of main excitatory/inhibitory amino acids neurotransmitters. Key words: Taurine; Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury; Excitatory amino acid; Inhibitory amino acid