The protective effects of taurine against renal damage by salt loading in Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

Abstract

We evaluated whether taurine prevents renal damage which is accompanied with enhanced expression of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) receptor-1 (LOX-1) mRNA, in salt-loaded Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rats. Male, 4-week-old DS rats were fed on either a high-salt (8% NaCl) or normal-salt (0.66% NaCl) diet for 4 weeks. Some DS rats with high-salt diet were given drinking water containing 1% taurine. We evaluated blood pressure, renal function, renal LOX-1 expression and parameters for oxidative stress. In salt-loaded DS rats, there was a significant increase in heart weight and urinary protein, accompanied with enhanced LOX-1 expression in kidney. All of these were reduced by concomitant supplementation of taurine, although both antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic effects of taurine were only slight in salt-loaded DS rats. On the other hand, salt-induced increment in urinary 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine, a parameter of oxidative damage, was completely normalized by taurine supplementation. The protective effects of taurine supplementation against renal damage induced by salt loading in DS rats may be attributed to the suppression of LOX-1, probably through its antioxidant effects.