title: Immunohistochemical localization of insulin in pancreatic beta-cells of taurine-supplemented or taurine-depleted diabetic rats.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of taurine supplementation or depletion on the immunohistochemical localization of insulin in pancreas of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed for 7 weeks with a purified diet that was supplemented with 0, 1, 2 or 3% taurine in their drinking water. To induce taurine depletion, rats were treated with 5% beta-alanine in their drinking water. After 3 weeks, diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (50 mg/kg body-weight). The pancreatic tissue was stained immunocytochemically, using an antibody to insulin, and examined by light microscopy. The insulin levels in pancreatic beta-cells of the diabetic group that received no taurine-supplement were significantly decreased, compared to the non-diabetic group. The levels of insulin in beta-cell of 1% and 2% taurine-supplemented diabetic groups were significantly higher than those of the diabetic group, whereas the levels in the group receiving 3% taurine were not significantly different from that of non-diabetic rats. Therefore, it may be suggested that taurine protect pancreatic beta-cells against destruction by ptozotocin injection in a dose-dependent way.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Inha University, Inchon, Korea.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000009:adverse effects; D013654:Taurine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015091:beta-Alanine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D015091:beta-Alanine; D013654:Taurine; D013311:Streptozocin