Taurine fails to protect against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced striatal dopamine depletion in mice.
Taurine, a known antioxidant and neuroprotector has been investigated for its free radical scavenging action in vitro in isolated mitochondria, and tested whether it protects against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration in mice. Taurine (0.1-10 mM) did not affect 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium-induced hydroxyl radical production in isolated mitochondria. Systemic administration of taurine (250 mg/kg, i.p.) caused a small, but significant loss of dopamine levels in the striatum of mice. Taurine failed to reverse MPTP-induced striatal dopamine depletion, but caused significant increase in dopamine turnover in these animals. In the light of the present study it may be suggested that consumption of taurine may neither help in scavenging of neurotoxic hydroxyl radicals in the brain mitochondria, nor would it help in blocking the process of neurodegeneration.
Navneet
A K
AK
Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Neuroscience, Division of Cell Biology and Physiology, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India.
Appukuttan
T A
TA
Pandey
M
M
Mohanakumar
K P
KP
D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000378:metabolism; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013654:Taurine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017211:Treatment Failure
D013654:Taurine; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D004298:Dopamine