IN-VIVO PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF TAURINE ON PUROMYCIN AMINONUCLEOSIDE-INDUCED NEPHROSIS IN RATS

The present investigation evaluated the effectiveness of taurine in at tenuating the acute nephrosis in rats following intraperitoneal admini stration of puromycin aminonucleoside. Animals given a single injectio n of aminonucleoside (100 mg/kg) developed nephrotic syndrome at the e nd of 10 days, as evidenced by heavy proteinuria, albuminuria, and inc reased urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase when compa red with the controls. Significant increases in kidney lipid peroxides , hydroxyl radicals, and hydroperoxides were also evident. Aminonucleo side significantly reduced the levels of glutathione, total thiol, asc orbic acid, and vitamin E in the kidney tissue. Significant reduction in the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as glucose-6-phosphate d ehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase were also observed in the nephrotic rats . Neither saline nor saline plus taurine treatment caused detectable c hanges in the above biochemical variables. Daily taurine administratio n to nephrotic rats for 10 days, however, reduced the severity of amin onucleoside-associated renal injury with significant reduction in urin ary protein constituents, decreased lipid peroxides, and increased lev els of antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes. Collectively, the results of this study demonstrate a protective role of taurine in amelioratin g the acute nephrosis in response to puromycin aminonucleoside adminis tration.