[Effects of taurine on the expression of nitric oxide synthase in lung of rats exposed to silica].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of taurine in diet on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in rat lung induced by silica.


METHODS
Wistar rats were established by direct tracheal instillation of silica into rat lungs exposed surgically, and the animals of taurine-treated group were silica-instilled with a diet containing taurine. The taurine concentration of serum was analyzed by means of HPLC. The expression of iNOS protein in paraffin-embedded lung sections with Streptavidin/peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray was measured by Image-Pro Plus.


RESULTS
The concentration of taurine in serum of taurine-treated group was significantly higher than those in saline-treated and silica-treated groups (P < 0.05). The activities of total NOS and iNOS in BALF supernatant and iNOS positive area percentage of rat lung in silica-treated group were at the peak on 14th day, which were 1.84 U/ml, 1.12 U/ml and 5.42% more respectively than those in saline-treated group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between taurine-treated group and silica-treated group in total NOS and iNOS activities of BALF supernatant, and iNOS positive area of the lung (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with taurine hardly influences on the increase in expression of nitric oxide synthase in rat lung induced by silica dust.
Xu
Zheng-rong
ZR
Department of Preventive Medicine of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province 075000, China.
Du
Hai-ke
HK
Wang
Shi-xin
SX
Liu
Dian-wu
DW
Wang
Jian
J
D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D013654:Taurine / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*
D013654:Taurine; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II