Antioxidant treatment with taurine ameliorates chronic pancreatitis in an experimental rat model.
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.
Mas
Mehmet Refik
MR
Department of Internal Medicine, Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Isik
Ahmet Turan
AT
Yamanel
Levent
L
Inal
Volkan
V
Tasci
Ilker
I
Deveci
Salih
S
Mas
Nuket
N
Comert
Bilgin
B
Akay
Cemal
C
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
D000975:Antioxidants; D013654:Taurine; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase