College of Animal Science & Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, P.R. China.
J Biomed Sci. 2010 Aug 24;17 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S9. doi: 10.1186/1423-0127-17-S1-S9.
It has been demonstrated that taurine is one of the most abundant free amino acids in the male reproductive system, and can be biosynthesized by male reproductive organs. But the effect of taurine on male reproduction is poorly understood.
Taurine and beta-alanine (taurine transport inhibitor) were offered in water to male rats of different ages. The effects of taurine on reproductive hormones, testis marker enzymes, antioxidative ability and sperm quality were investigated.
The levels of T and LH were obviously increased by taurine supplementation in rats of different ages, and the level of E was also significantly elevated in baby rats. The levels of SOD, ACP, SDH and NOS were obviously increased by taurine administration in adult rats, but the levels of AKP, AST, ALT and NO were significantly decreased. The levels of SOD, ACP, LDH, SDH, NOS, NO and GSH were significantly elevated by taurine administration in aged rats, but the levels of AST and ALT were significantly decreased. The motility of spermatozoa was obviously increased by taurine supplement in adult rats. The numbers and motility of spermatozoa, the rate of live spermatozoa were significantly increased by taurine supplement in aged rats.
The present study demonstrated that a taurine supplement could stimulate the secretion of LH and T, increase the levels of testicular marker enzymes, elevate testicular antioxidation and improve sperm quality. The results imply that taurine plays important roles in male reproduction especially in aged animals.
牛磺酸是雄性生殖系统中最丰富的游离氨基酸之一，可由男性生殖器官生物合成。但牛磺酸对男性生殖的影响知之甚少。
雄性大鼠在不同年龄时以水的形式提供牛磺酸和β-丙氨酸（牛磺酸转运抑制剂）。研究牛磺酸对生殖激素、睾丸标记酶、抗氧化能力和精子质量的影响。
牛磺酸补充剂可明显提高不同年龄大鼠的 T 和 LH 水平，小牛的 E 水平也明显升高。牛磺酸给药可明显提高成年大鼠 SOD、ACP、SDH 和 NOS 水平，但 AKP、AST、ALT 和 NO 水平明显降低。牛磺酸给药可明显提高老年大鼠 SOD、ACP、LDH、SDH、NOS、NO 和 GSH 水平，但 AST 和 ALT 水平明显降低。牛磺酸补充剂可明显提高成年大鼠精子的活力。牛磺酸补充剂可明显增加老年大鼠精子的数量和活力，活精子率。
本研究表明，牛磺酸补充剂可刺激 LH 和 T 的分泌，提高睾丸标记酶水平，提高睾丸抗氧化能力，改善精子质量。结果表明，牛磺酸在男性生殖中特别是在老年动物中发挥着重要作用。
