Taurine inhibits ischemia/reperfusion-induced compartment syndrome in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate effects of taurine on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced compartment syndrome in rabbit hind limbs.


METHODS
Rabbits underwent femoral artery occlusion after ligation of branches from terminal aorta to femoral artery. After a 7-h ischemia, reperfusion was established with the use of heparinized polyethylene shunts. Rabbits received taurine (1g/kg) or normal saline (control) by iv infusion 10 min before shunt placement. During reperfusion, anterior compartment pressure (ACP) was monitored continuously in the left lower extremity. Gastrocnemius muscle triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) level, taurine content and myeloperoxidase activity were assayed. Oxidative stress was induced in the in vitro gastrocnemius muscle slices by free radical generating systems (FRGS), and the malondialdehyde content was measured in presence or absence of taurine.


RESULTS
After 7 h of ischemia, none of the parameters that we measured were different from those before ischemia, except that TTC reduction decreased by 80%. In the control group, after 2 h of reperfusion, ACP increased 4.5-fold, and gastrocnemius muscle taurine content was reduced by 33%. In taurine-treated animals, at 2h reperfusion, the mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were increased, by 6% and 10%. ACP decreased by 39%, muscle edema decreased by 16%, TTC reduction increased by 150%, and lactate dehydrogenase decreased by 36% compared to control group. Plasma and muscle taurine content increased by 70% and 88%, respectively. In the taurine-treated group, at 2 h reperfusion, plasma malondialdehyde and conjugated diene content were decreased by 38% and 23%, respectively, and muscle malondialdehyde and conjugated diene content decreased by 22% and 30%, respectively compared to the control group. At 2 h reperfusion, myeloperoxidase activity was increased 3.5-fold in control animals. In the in vitro study, taurine decreased malondialdehyde content in muscle slices incubated with hypochlorous acid in a dose-dependent manner, but there was no change when incubated with hydrogen peroxide and xanthine oxidase.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with taurine inhibited I/R-induced compartment syndrome by at least in part attenuating oxidative stress injury induced by I/R, suggesting clinical application of taurine might be a new strategy for the prevention and treatment of compartment syndrome.
Wang
Ji-Xian
JX
Institute of Cardiovascular Disease Research, The First Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
Li
Yan
Y
Zhang
Li-Ke
LK
Zhao
Jing
J
Pang
Yong-Zheng
YZ
Tang
Chao-Shu
CS
Zhang
Jing
J
D000818:Animals; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011312:Pressure; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism
D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013654:Taurine; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C009591:triphenyltetrazolium; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase