title: Taurine inhibits development of atherosclerotic lesions in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.
abstract: 1. The effects of taurine on the development of atherosclerotic lesions were investigated in apolipoprotein (apo) E-deficient mice, an animal model with severe hypercholesterolaemia and extensive atherosclerosis. These mice were fed a normal laboratory chow containing 2% taurine for 12 weeks. 2. Serum total cholesterol was significantly elevated after 12 weeks treatment with taurine. This elevation was due to increases in very low-density lipoprotein- and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. 3. Despite such effects on serum lipoproteins, analysis using en face oil red O staining revealed that taurine reduced the area of arterial lipid accumulation by 28%, as measured quantitatively as an index of atherosclerosis. Histological examination also demonstrated a decrease in the size of aortic lesions in taurine-treated mice. 4. Serum levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in apoE-deficient mice were higher than in normolipidaemic C57BL/6J mice. Serum TBARS levels were significantly decreased by 12 weeks treatment of apoE-deficient mice with taurine. 5. Thus, taurine prevents the formation of atherosclerotic lesions, independently of serum cholesterol levels, and the results suggest that the anti-oxidative effects of taurine are related to its anti-atherosclerotic actions.
authors.affiliation: Medicinal Research Laboratories, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, Ohmiya, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitajima
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagate
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kameo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murakami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008055:Lipids; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D013654:Taurine