Protective effect of taurine on reperfusion injury after focal cerebral ischemia in rats

Objiective To investigate the effect of taurine on reperfusion injury after focal cerebral ischemia in rats and its related mechanism.Methods A middle cerebral artery occlusion model was developed in Wistar rats.They were divided into three groups: sham group,ischemia-reperfusion group(I/R),and ischemia-reperfusion with taurine treatment group.After ischemia for 1 hour and reperfusion for 24 hours in each model rat,the change in cerebral infarct volume,water content,and the expression of NF-кB P65 were determined.Results The percentages of cerebral infarct volume 0,(13.32±3.18)%,and(9.21±2.24)% in the groups 1-3,respectively,and it was reduced by 30.83% in taurine treatment group,compared with I/R group(P0.05).The brain water content was(79.28±0.66)%,(82.46±0.94)%,and(80.73±1.40)% in the three groups with a significant decrease in taurine treatment group(P0.05).And likely,the expression of NF-кB P65 protein was down regulated with taurine treatment(P0.05).Conclusions Taurine has a neuroprotective effect on reperfusion injury after focal cerebral ischemia in rats.This effect is related to the inhibition of activation of NF-кB and the alleviation of neuronal damage.