title: Effects of taurine on glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and reduced glutathione levels in rats.
abstract: The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of oral administration of taurine on endogenous glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and Glutathione Reductase (GR) activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) level in normal rats. Normal saline (Group I) or 5% taurine in normal saline was administered in dose of 50 mg (Group II), 250 mg (Group III) or 500 mg kg(-1) of body weight (Group IV) through intragastric intubation for 60 days. GPx and GR enzyme activities and GSH and taurine levels were determined in liver, heart, stomach, kidney and plasma of normal Wistar rats. GPx activity showed an increase in liver, heart, stomach and plasma. GR activity increased in kidney and decreased in liver and plasma. GSH levels increased in liver, stomach and decreased in kidney. Liver showed an increase and heart, stomach and kidney a decrease in taurine level in taurine administered rats when compared to control rats. The results varied from organ to organ and the observed variations among organs might be related to their respective enzymatic, non-enzymatic antioxidant potential and its functions. From the present study it may be concluded that long term oral administration of taurine affects GPx, GR and GSH levels in normal rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Rajah Muthiah Dental College, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar-608 002, Tamilnadu, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anand
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rajakumar
authors.forename: Mathew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeraud
authors.forename: A John William
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Felix
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Balasubramanian
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects; D013654:Taurine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D013654:Taurine; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005978:Glutathione