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Fig. 26.2
Fold changes in DBH, TH, and TPH mRNA expressions in mice's cerebrum exposed to
4 ppm arsenic or 4 ppm arsenic and 150 mg/kg taurine for 60 days. The number for each experi-
ment was 6.
T
is short for taurine. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Different from control group,
a
P
< 0.05,
aa
P
< 0.01; Different from 4 ppm group,
b
P
< 0.05,
bb
P
< 0.01
(
P
< 0.05), specially for the expression of DBH and TH (
P
< 0.01). The mRNA
expressions of TH, TPH, and DBH in the group received 4 ppm As
2
O
3
decreased
about 90, 74, and 79% respectively, compared to controls. And the mRNA expres-
sions of DBH, TH, and TPH in the cerebellum of mice that received 4 ppm As
2
O
3
and 150 mg/kg taurine were significantly increased than that in group exposed to
4 ppm As
2
O
3
alone (
P
< 0.05).
26.4
Discussion
The paper exhibited the protective effect of taurine on the decreased biogenic amine
neurotransmitter levels in the brains of mice exposed to As through reducing the
mRNA expressions of their synzymes.
Being a detoxicant, taurine was proved to protect the central nervous system
against the toxic effect induced by a number of pollutants, such as Pb, Mn, and bili-
rubin (Fan et al.
2009
; Gao et al.
2011
; Zhang and Huang
2008
) . Although the pro-
tection of taurine against As-induced neurotoxicity was also investigated, the
underlying mechanism was still poorly understood. Ma et al. reported that adminis-
tration of arsenic with taurine could alleviate DNA damage of neurons in the brain
caused by arsenic through the RNS signal pathway (Ma et al.
2010
) . The result was
according with the findings by other labs. Das et al. also found that oral administra-
tion of taurine was very effective in the prevention of As-induced oxidative impair-
ment in the brain tissue of the experimental rats (Das et al.
2010
) . These results
mentioned above indicated that the protection role of taurine was as an antioxidant
in the oxidative stress induced by As. However, the discussed protection mecha-
nisms of taurine included not only counteracting oxidative stress but also the pro-
motion of neuron, enhancement of the expression of c-fos, activating the calcium
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