Atrophic Cardiac Remodeling Induced by Taurine Deficiency in Wistar Rats

作者：Pansani Mariele Castilho^*; Azevedo Paula S; Murino Rafacho Bruna Paola; Minicucci Marcos F; Chiuso Minicucci Fernanda; Zorzella Pezavento Sofia Goncalves; Marchini Julio Sergio; Padovan Gilberto Joao; Henrique Fernandes Ana Angelica; Matsubara Beatriz B; Matsubara Luiz S; Zornoff Leonardo A M; Paiva Sergio A R

来源：PLos One, 2012, 7(7): e41439.

DOI：10.1371/journal.pone.0041439

Introduction: Micronutrient deficiency is observed in heart failure patients. Taurine, for example, represents 50% of total free amino acids in the heart, and in vivo studies have linked taurine deficiency with cardiomyopathy.
Methods: Thirty-four male Wistar rats (body weight = 100 g) were weighed and randomly assigned to one of two groups: Control (C) or taurine-deficient (T (-)). Beta-alanine at a concentration of 3% was added to the animals' water to induce taurine deficiency in the T (-) group. On day 30, the rats were individually submitted to echocardiography; morphometrical and histopathological evaluation and metalloproteinase activity, oxidative stress and inflammation evaluation were performed. Tissue samples were collected to determine the taurine concentration in the heart.
Results: Taurine deficiency led to decreases in: ventricular wall thickness, left ventricle dry weight, myocyte sectional area, left ventricle posterior wall thickness and ventricular geometry. With regard to heart function, the velocity of the A wave, the ratio between the E and A wave, the ejection fraction, fractional shortening and cardiac output values were decreased in T () rats, suggesting abnormal diastolic and systolic function. Increased fibrosis, inflammation and increased activation of metalloproteinases were not observed. Oxidative stress was increased in deficient animals.
Conclusions: These data suggest that taurine deficiency promotes structural and functional cardiac alterations with unique characteristics.

• 出版日期2012-7-23