Taurine and vitamin E protect against pulmonary toxicity in rats exposed to cigarette smoke

Abstract

Cigarette smoke (CS) contains toxicants causing pathological derangements. The effects of taurine and/or vitamin E (TAOV) on the lungs of rats exposed to CS were evaluated. Five groups (each containing randomly selected five albino male rats) were formed. Rats in Group 1 were not exposed to CS. Group 2 was exposed to CS without administration of TAOV. Prior to CS exposure, rats in groups 3, 4 and 5 were administered 50 mg/kg b.w. taurine, 30 mg/kg b.w. vitamin E, and a combination of both, respectively. The level of reduced glutathione and activities of Na+/K+-ATPase (SPA), Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase (CMA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), catalase and superoxide dismutase in the lungs of rats were analyzed. Activities of SPA and CMA in the lung of untreated rats exposed to CS significantly decreased when compared with control (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the activities of SPA and CMA in the lungs of treated rats and control group. The ALT, AST and ALP activities in the lungs of untreated rats reduced significantly relative to control (p < 0.05). Contrastingly, no significant difference was recorded for ALT, AST and ALP activities in the lungs of rats administered taurine and vitamin E prior to CS exposure when compared to the control. Results showed taurine and vitamin E protected against damage that were otherwise observed in untreated rats. Thus, the administration of TAOV may mitigate CS-induced damage in the lungs of rats.