Protection by Taurine and Thiotaurine Against Biochemical and Cellular Alterations Induced by Diabetes in a Rat Model

Abstract

In this study, the actions of taurine (TAU), a sulfonate, and thiotaurine (TTAU), a thiosulfonate, on diabetes-mediated biochemical alterations in red blood cells (RBCs) and plasma and on the RBC membrane, morphology and spectrin distribution were examined in rats. Diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats with streptozotocin (60 mg/kg i.p.) and allowed to progress for 14 days. From days to 56, the rats received a daily, 2.4 mmol/kg, oral dose of TAU or TTAU, 2 mL oral dose of physiological saline or 4 U/kg subcutaneous dose of isophane insulin (INS). Naive rats served as the control group. The rats were sacrificed on day 57 and their blood was collected to measure HbA(1c), to isolate intact RBCs, and to obtain plasma. A 6-weeks treatment with INS effectively lowered the elevations in plasma glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and plasma and RBC malondialdehyde and glutathione disulfide while effectively counteracting the decreases in plasma INS, plasma and RBC glutathione redox status, and plasma and RBC activities of antioxidant enzymes caused by diabetes. Also, INS returned the echynocytic appearance and peripheral location of spectrin seen in RBCs from diabetic rats to the normal discocytic shape and uniform distribution. TAU and TTAU were as effective as INS in inhibiting malondialdehyde formation, changes in redox status and oxidative stress in both the plasma and RBC, but were much less effective in controlling hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia. Furthermore TTAU was more effective than INS or TAU in lowering the increase in cholesterol to phospholipids ratio in the RBC membrane and, unlike TAU, it was able to normalize the RBC morphology and spectrin distribution.

Taurine supplementation reduces oxidative stress and protects the liver in an iron-overload murine model

“…Taurine is a conditionally essential amino acid that contains a sulfonic acid group and has several physiological roles ( 37 , 38 ). Increasing evidence has shown that taurine exerts strong protective effects due to its antioxidant characteristics ( 17 , 39 , 40 ). In the present study taurine levels in the liver were increased to investigate whether this prevented iron overload-induced hepatic damage, despite the fact that taurine has no effect on iron deposition.…”

Effect of Evolvulus alsinoides on lipid metabolism of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

“…Phospholipids levels increased in tissues of streptozotocin diabetic rats [18][19][20][21] . Administration of whole plant ethanol extract of E. alsinoides and glibenclamide decreased the levels of phospholipids in both liver and kidney.…”

Crassaostrea gigas Oyster Shell Extract Inhibits Lipogenesis via Suppression of Serine Palmitoyltransferase

“…Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is an organic acid widely found in various animal tissues. It has many fundamental biological functions including bile acids, antioxidation, osmoregulation, membrane stabilization, and modulation of calcium signaling [18]. In addition, betaine (trimethylglycine) is a dietary component, and farm animal studies showed that inclusion of betaine in feed produced leaner meat with a lower fat content [19].…”

“…In addition, betaine (trimethylglycine) is a dietary component, and farm animal studies showed that inclusion of betaine in feed produced leaner meat with a lower fat content [19]. Both of these components are known to have a lipid-lowering effect and improve diabetic conditions [18].…”