Experimental study reveals taurine attenuates oxidative stress and liver injury in bile-duct-ligated rats, suggesting its potential as an adjunct therapy for cholestatic liver disease.
Key Points
To investigate the protective effects of taurine against oxidative stress and hepatic damage in a rat model of cholestasis.
Cholestasis was surgically induced in rats via common bile duct ligation (BDL).
Rats received intraperitoneal administration of either taurine (100 mg/kg) or saline following surgery.
Plasma and liver tissue were evaluated for oxidative stress biomarkers (MDA, NOx, GSH), liver function markers (ALT, total bilirubin), and histopathology.
Taurine treatment significantly decreased plasma and hepatic MDA and NOx levels and significantly elevated GSH concentrations compared with saline controls (p<0.05).
Plasma ALT levels and late-stage total bilirubin levels were significantly reduced in taurine-treated rats (p<0.05).
Histopathological analysis showed marked attenuation of liver tissue injury and reduced extent of damaged areas following taurine treatment.