Effect of taurine on gastric oxidative stress and hemorrhagic erosion in brain ischemic rats.

The effect of taurine on gastric hemorrhage and mucosal erosion in the brain ischemia (BI) is unknown. The aim of the research was to study the involvement of gastric oxidative stress in hemorrhagic erosion produced in BI rats. The protective effect of taurine on this erosion model was evaluated. Male Wistar rats were deprived of food for 24 h. Under chloral hydrate -anesthesia, bilateral carotid artery ligation (BCAL) was performed 12, 18 and 21 h after removal of food to obtain 12, 6 and 3 h of BI duration. The pylorus and carotid esophagus of rats also were ligated. The stomachs were then irrigated for 3 h with normal saline or simulated gastric juice containing 100 mM HCl plus 17.4 mM pepsin and 54 mM NaCl. The stomach was dissected. Gastric samples were harvested. The rat brain was dissected for examination of ischemia by using triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining method. Changes in gastric ulcerogenic parameters, such as decreased mucosal GSH level as well as enhanced gastric acid back-diffusion, mucosal lipid peroxide generation, histamine concentration, luminal hemoglobin content and mucosal erosion in gastric samples were measured. The results indicated that BCAL could produce severe BI in rats. Moreover, a BI- duration-dependent exacerbation of various ulcerogenic parameters also was observed in these rats. Intraperitoneal taurine (0-300 mg/kg) dose-dependently ameliorated gastric oxidative stress and hemorrhagic erosion in BI rats. Taken together, BI could produce gastric oxidative stress and hemorrhagic erosions that was ameliorated by taurine through stimulation of GSH biosynthesis and inhibition of oxidative stress.