THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF TAURINE ON RAT HEPATIC FIBROSIS

ABSTRACT Objective: To study the effect of taurine on experimental hepatic fibrosis in rats. Methods: Successive intravenous injection of BSA to induce rat hepatic fibrosis, the contents of liver hydroxyproline were determined by chromometry, and the collagens in liver sections were observed after the specific staining with direct red 80 (Sirius red F3B). Results: The contents of liver hydroxyproline and the numbers of liver myofibroblasts in hepatic fibrotic animals were much higher than those in control animals. Furthermore, the accumulation of collagens in liver sections of hepatic fibrotic animals were also more obvious than those of control animals. Administration of 25 mg/kg taurine apparently decreased the level of liver hydroxyproline and the number of liver myofibroblasts, and the accumulation of collagens in liver sections also decreased. Conclusion: Taurine displayed a protective effect on rat experimental hepatic fibrosis.