title: Atrophic cardiac remodeling induced by taurine deficiency in Wistar rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Micronutrient deficiency is observed in heart failure patients. Taurine, for example, represents 50% of total free amino acids in the heart, and in vivo studies have linked taurine deficiency with cardiomyopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four male Wistar rats (body weight = 100 g) were weighed and randomly assigned to one of two groups: Control (C) or taurine-deficient (T (-)). Beta-alanine at a concentration of 3% was added to the animals' water to induce taurine deficiency in the T (-) group. On day 30, the rats were individually submitted to echocardiography; morphometrical and histopathological evaluation and metalloproteinase activity, oxidative stress and inflammation evaluation were performed. Tissue samples were collected to determine the taurine concentration in the heart.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Taurine deficiency led to decreases in: ventricular wall thickness, left ventricle dry weight, myocyte sectional area, left ventricle posterior wall thickness and ventricular geometry. With regard to heart function, the velocity of the A wave, the ratio between the E and A wave, the ejection fraction, fractional shortening and cardiac output values were decreased in T (-) rats, suggesting abnormal diastolic and systolic function. Increased fibrosis, inflammation and increased activation of metalloproteinases were not observed. Oxidative stress was increased in deficient animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that taurine deficiency promotes structural and functional cardiac alterations with unique characteristics.
authors: Internal Medicine Department, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Mariele Castilho
authors: MC
authors: Pansani
authors: Paula S
authors: PS
authors: Azevedo
authors: Bruna Paola Murino
authors: BP
authors: Rafacho
authors: Marcos F
authors: MF
authors: Minicucci
authors: Fernanda
authors: F
authors: Chiuso-Minicucci
authors: Sofia Gonçalves
authors: SG
authors: Zorzella-Pezavento
authors: Julio Sergio
authors: JS
authors: Marchini
authors: Gilberto João
authors: GJ
authors: Padovan
authors: Ana Angelica Henrique
authors: AA
authors: Fernandes
authors: Beatriz B
authors: BB
authors: Matsubara
authors: Luiz S
authors: LS
authors: Matsubara
authors: Leonardo A M
authors: LA
authors: Zornoff
authors: Sergio A R
authors: SA
authors: Paiva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013654:Taurine / Q000172:deficiency*; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014867:Water; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D013654:Taurine