Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the cardioprotective effect of Taurine on the donor hearts during cold ischemic period.
Methods: 32 rats were divided into four groups (sham, taurine, ischemia, treatment group, 8 rats in each). All rats were fed with rat food for three weeks. Taurine and treatment groups were given a 200 mg/kg/day dose of Taurine by oral gavage besides rat feed. Cardiectomy was performed in all rats after three weeks. In ischemia and treatment groups, harvested hearts were kept in 0.9% sodium chloride at +4 degrees C for 5 hours. Tissue samples were taken from left ventricle in all groups. These samples were evaluated by histopathologic and biochemical examination.
Results: In the present study results of the biochemical and histopathological examination reveals the protective effects of Taurine. As a marker of lipid peroxidation, Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in ischemia group were significantly higher than both Sham and Taurine groups. MDA values were recorded; 3.62 ± 0.197 in the sham group, 2.07 ± 0.751 in the Taurine group, 9.71 ± 1.439 in the ischemia group and 7.68 ± 1.365 in the treatment group. MDA levels decreased in treatment group. (p < 0.05) In accordance with MDA findings, while superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels decreased in ischemia group, they increased in treatment group. (p < 0.05) There was no differences in Catalase (CAT) enzyme level between treatment and ischemia group (p = 1.000). CAT level results were recorded; 7.08 ± 0.609 in the sham group, 6.15 ± 0.119 in the Taurine group, 5.02 ± 0.62 in the ischemia group, and 5.36 ± 0.384 in the treatment group. Less intracellular edema and inflammatory cell reaction were observed in histologic examination in favor of treatment group. (p < 0.01)
Conclusion: Taurine decreased myocardial damage during cold ischemic period following global myocardial ischemia.