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Taurine Inhibits Development Of Atherosclerotic Lesions In apolipoprotein E‐Deficient Mice ‡

2001; Wiley; Volume: 28; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1046/j.1440-1681.2001.03527.x

1440-1681

Yukiko Kondo, Yoshihisa Toda, Hideaki Kitajima, Hiroaki Oda, Takatoshi Nagate, Kazuya Kameo, Shigeru Murakami,

Cardiovascular, Neuropeptides, and Oxidative Stress Research

SUMMARY 1. The effects of taurine on the development of atherosclerotic lesions were investigated in apolipoprotein (apo) E‐deficient mice, an animal model with severe hypercholesterolaemia and extensive atherosclerosis. These mice were fed a normal laboratory chow containing 2% taurine for 12 weeks. 2. Serum total cholesterol was significantly elevated after 12 weeks treatment with taurine. This elevation was due to increases in very low‐density lipoprotein‐ and low‐density lipoprotein–cholesterol. 3. Despite such effects on serum lipoproteins, analysis using en face oil red O staining revealed that taurine reduced the area of arterial lipid accumulation by 28%, as measured quantitatively as an index of atherosclerosis. Histological examination also demonstrated a decrease in the size of aortic lesions in taurine‐treated mice. 4. Serum levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in apoE‐deficent mice were higher than in normolipidaemic C57BL/6J mice. Serum TBARS levels were significantly decreased by 12 weeks treatment of apoE‐deficient mice with taurine. 5. Thus, taurine prevents the formation of atherosclerotic lesions, independently of serum cholesterol levels, and the results suggest that the anti‐oxidative effects of tauirne are related to its anti‐atherosclerotic actions.