[Effects of prenatal taurine on mRNA expression of PKA CREB signal pathway and glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor in fetal rat brains of intrauterine growth restriction].
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the effects of prenatal application of taurine on mRNA expression of protein kinase A cAMP response element binding protein (PKA-CREB) signal pathway and glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in fetal rat brains of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).


METHODS
Pregnant rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control, IUGR model, low dose (100 mg/kg x d) and high dose (300 mg/kg x d) taurine treatment IUGR (n = 5 each). IUGR was induced by food restriction throughout pregnancy. PKA, CREB and GDNF mRNA expression in brains of newborn rats was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
PKA, CREB and GDNF mRNA expression in the IUGR model group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (p<0.05). Compared with the IUGR model group, mRNA expression of PKA and CREB in both the low dose and high dose taurine treatment groups increased significantly (p<0.05); GDNF mRNA expression in the high dose taurine treatment group also increased significantly (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Taurine can increase mRNA expression of PKA, CREB and GDNF in fetal rat brains of IUGR. This suggests that prenatal application of taurine may increase neurogenesis of the central nervous system and endogenous secretion of neurotrophic factors, thus providing neuroprotective effects.
Chen
Hui
H
Beijing Maternity Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100026, China.
Li
Jian
J
Liu
Jing
J
Liu
Li
L
Liu
Na
N
Song
Yi-Zhi
YZ
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000378:metabolism*; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013654:Taurine; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases