Taurine's enhancement of myocardial protective effects on gradual reperfusion

Aim To observe taurine's enhancement of myocardial protective effects on gradual reperfusion in isolated rat hearts.Methods Isolated myocardial ischemia-reperfusion(I/R) model was replicated by Langendorff perfused rat heart.Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups: normal group(Nor),I/R group,gradual reperfusion group(GR),taurine of lower concentration group(T20),taurine of higher concentration group(T40),gradual reperfusion combined with taurine of lower concentration group(GT20) and gradual reperfusion combined with taurine of higher concentration group(GT40).The cardiac function was recorded.The activity of LDH in coronary effluent and myocardial Caspase-3 were detected.The myocardial infarct size and cardiocyte apoptotic index(AI) were measured with TTC and TUNEL staining method at the end of reperfusion in each group.Results Compared with I/R group,cardiac function was improved significantly,the myocardial infarct size,the activity of LDH and myocardial Caspase-3,and the apoptotic index were reduced remarkably in GR,T20,T40,GT20,GT40.The protective effects of gradual reperfusion combined with taurine on I/R injury were more potent than applying gradual reperfusion or taurine alone,and the protective effects of GT40 were the most obvious.Conclusion Gradual reperfusion and taurine can reduce I/R injury in isolated rat hearts.Anti-apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms of the myocardial protective effects.The myocardial protective effects of gradual reperfusion are enhanced by taurine,especially taurine of higher concentration.