title: Ethanol- and/or Taurine-Induced Oxidative Stress in Chick Embryos.
abstract: Because taurine alleviates ethanol- (EtOH-) induced lipid peroxidation and liver damage in rats, we asked whether exogenous taurine could alleviate EtOH-induced oxidative stress in chick embryos. Exogenous EtOH (1.5 mmol/Kg egg or 3 mmol/Kg egg), taurine (4 μmol/Kg egg), or EtOH and taurine (1.5 mmol EtOH and 4 μmol taurine/Kg egg or 3 mmol EtOH and 4 μmol taurine/Kg egg) were injected into fertile chicken eggs during the first three days of embryonic development (E0-2). At 11 days of development (midembryogenesis), serum taurine levels and brain caspase-3 activities, homocysteine (HoCys) levels, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, membrane fatty acid composition, and lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) levels were measured. Early embryonic EtOH exposure caused increased brain apoptosis rates (caspase-3 activities); increased brain HoCys levels; increased oxidative-stress, as measured by decreased brain GSH levels; decreased brain long-chain polyunsaturated levels; and increased brain LPO levels. Although taurine is reported to be an antioxidant, exogenous taurine was embryopathic and caused increased apoptosis rates (caspase-3 activities); increased brain HoCys levels; increased oxidative-stress (decreased brain GSH levels); decreased brain long-chain polyunsaturated levels; and increased brain LPO levels. Combined EtOH and taurine treatments also caused increased apoptosis rates and oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Emily J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Berning
authors.forename: Noah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bernhardson
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Dina A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Farhat
authors.forename: Courtney M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gushrowski
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanctot
authors.forename: Benjamin H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Maddock
authors.forename: Kathryn G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Michels
authors.forename: Luke A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mugge
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nass
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yearsley
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Miller