title: Antioxidant treatment with taurine ameliorates chronic pancreatitis in an experimental rat model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Based on the results of recent studies that reported depleted antioxidant capacity in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP), prevention of free radical production has gained importance in antifibrotic treatment strategies in CP. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of taurine on oxidative capacity and fibrosis in experimental chronic rat pancreatic fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  CP was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by intraductal trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) dissolved in ethanol. Taurine was given intraperitoneally at a concentration of 1000 mg/kg. The treatment groups were as follows: group 1, TNBS plus normal saline (NS); group 2, TNBS plus taurine; group 3, ethanol plus NS; and group 4, NS plus NS. Each group contained 15 animals. Treatment was started after established CP. After 4 weeks of treatment, markers of oxidative stress and the degree of pancreatic fibrosis were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amount of weight loss was significantly lower in the taurine-treated group with CP (P < 0.002). Tissue malondialdehyde levels increased and superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities decreased significantly after treatment as well (P < 0.001). Histopathologic scores were also lower in taurine-treated animals with CP (P < 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taurine treatment improved the degree of oxidative stress and fibrosis in rat CP. Antioxidant treatment might be considered a novel option to alleviate the fibrotic process in CP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Refik
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mas
authors.forename: Ahmet Turan
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Isik
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yamanel
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Inal
authors.forename: Ilker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tasci
authors.forename: Salih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deveci
authors.forename: Nuket
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mas
authors.forename: Bilgin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Comert
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Akay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005355:Fibrosis; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D013654:Taurine; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase