[Effect of taurine on NOS activity in hippocampus of rat exposed lead].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of taurine on lead-induced damage to the ability of learning and memory.


METHODS
Using NADPH-d histochemistry method to study the change of rat NOS positive neurons in hippocampus. Rats in experimental groups were fed with different doses of lead in drinking water (0.011, 0.110 g/L), and different doses of taurine (5, 10 g/kg).


RESULTS
Taurine (10 g/kg) could increase the number of NOS positive neurons in CA1 and dentate gyrus subregion in hippocampus of rats exposed to lead. The number of NADPH-d positive neurons in CA1 and dentate gyrus subregion for low lead (0.011 g/L) and high taurine (10 g/kg) group (51.80 +/- 4.68, 47.40 +/- 4.20, respectively) were higher than those in the low lead (0.011 g/L) group (41.20 +/- 5.32, 39.87 +/- 3.81, respectively, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Taurine may antagonize lead-induced damage to the ability of learning and memory.
Yang
Feng
F
Martial Preventive Medicine Graduate School, Chinese People's Armed Police Force Medical College, Tianjin 300162, China.
Li
Ji-sheng
JS
Yan
Pei
P
Liu
Ya-hua
YH
Wang
Da-ning
DN
D000818:Animals; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000201:enzymology*; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013654:Taurine; D007854:Lead; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase