Effect of taurine on rat retinal ischemia after reperfusion

Objective To study the mechanism of and causative factor of retinal ischemic injury as well as the protective effect of taurine(2-aminoethanesulfonic acid).Methods 108 healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups:normal matched control group,sham operated group,positive matched control group,alanine-supplemented group,taurinesupplemented group,and vitamin E group.Retinal ischemia model was developed by increasing eye pressure for 60 min,and reperfusing for 6 h.Retinas were taken.Apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells(REC) and Ca~(2+) were assayed.Results Apoptosis of RGC occured in positive matched control group and taurine-supplemented group,but the apoptosis in taurine-supplemented group was significantly lessened,compared with the positive matched control group and alanine-supplemented group(P0.05).Ca~(2+) in taurine-supplemented group were reduced after reperfusion,compared with the positive matched group(P0.05).Conclusion Apoptosis of RGC is an important mechanism of retinal ischemia injury.Ca~(2+) is an important causative factor.Taurine has protective effect against the retinal ischemic injury.