Modulatory effects of taurine on metabolic and oxidative stress parameters in a mice model of muscle overuse.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the regulatory effects of taurine on the biochemical parameters of muscle injury by overuse.

METHODS

Male Swiss mice were divided into four groups: control (Ctrl), overuse (Ov), taurine (Tau), and overuse plus taurine (OvTau). High-intensity exercise sessions were administered for 21 d with concomitant subcutaneous injections of taurine (150 mg/kg). The mice were then sacrificed. The quadriceps muscles were surgically removed for subsequent histologic analysis and evaluation of mitochondrial function, oxidative stress parameters, tissue repair, and DNA damage markers.

RESULTS

The Ov group showed significant differences compared with the Ctrl group (all P <0.05). The fiber area decreased by 49.34%, whereas the centralized nuclei contents (Ctrl = 1.33%; Ov = 28.67%), membrane potential (Ctrl = 179.05 arbitrary fluorescence units (AFUs), Ctrl = 198.11 AFUs; Ov = 482.95 AFUs, Ov = 461.6 AFUs), complex I activity (Ctrl = 20.45 nmol ⋅ min ⋅ mg protein, Ov = 45.25 nmol ⋅ min ⋅ mg protein), hydrogen peroxide (Ctrl = 1.08 relative fluorescence unit (RFU) ⋅ sec ⋅ mg protein, Ctrl = 0.23 RFU ⋅ sec ⋅ mg protein; Ov = 5.02 RFU ⋅ sec ⋅ mg protein, Ov = 0.26 RFU ⋅ sec ⋅ mg protein) and malondialdehyde (Ctrl = 0.03 nmol ⋅ mg ⋅ protein, Ov = 0.06 nmol ⋅ mg ⋅ protein) levels, and DNA damage (Ctrl = 7.17%, Ov = 31.17%; Ctrl = 4.17, Ov = 72.5) were increased. Taurine administration reduced the number of centralized nuclei (OvTau = 5%), hydrogen peroxide levels (OvTau = 2.81 RFU ⋅ sec ⋅ mg protein, OvTaus = 1.54 RFU ⋅ sec ⋅ mg protein), membrane potential (OvTau = 220.18 AFUs, OvTaus = 235.28 AFUs), lipid peroxidation (OvTau = 0.02 nmol/mg protein), and DNA damage (OvTau = 21.33%, OvTau = 47.83) and increased the fiber area by 54% (all P <0.05).

CONCLUSION

Taken together, these data suggest that taurine supplementation modulates various cellular remodeling parameters after overuse-induced muscle damage, and that these positive effects may be related to its antioxidant capacity.