The effects of taurine on atherosclerosis development in cholesterol-fed rabbits.
The effect of taurine on the development of atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits maintained on a 2% cholesterol diet for a 14 week period has been examined. Taurine (0.2 and 0.5%) administered in the drinking water reduced thoracic aorta involvement. The area covered by atherosclerotic lesions was 58 +/- 15 and 52.5 +/- 12% (P less than 0.05) respectively, compared to 72.4 +/- 19% in the control group. Taurine had no significant effect on serum or tissue cholesterol, calcium, triglyceride or phospholipid concentrations. Nevertheless 0.2% taurine caused an increase in dP/dtmax (measured from the systemic blood pressure) and 0.5% lowered systemic blood pressure. The anti-atherosclerotic effects of taurine appear to be unrelated to a fall in blood pressure. The possibility that taurine is reducing the development of atherosclerotic lesions through a mechanism involving its antioxidant activity is discussed.
Petty
M A
MA
Merrell Dow Research Institute, Strasbourg, France.
Kintz
J
J
DiFrancesco
G F
GF
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D011817:Rabbits; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004573:Electrolytes; D010743:Phospholipids; D013654:Taurine