[Influences of taurine and micronutrients on nitric oxide synthase expression and cGMP content in rat retina]

To investigate the influence of taurine and micronutrients on visual signal transmission.

Wistar rats were divided into three groups, that is control group, experiment group 1 and experiment group 2, and fed for 3 weeks with normal diet, 5 times and 10 times doses of requirements of taurine, vitamin A, vitamin B, zinc and selenium, then each treatment group were divided into light group and dark adaptation group. After feeding another 3 days in different environments with normal diet, all animals were killed and cGMP level and NOS expression were analysed in retina and retinogeniculate.

The NOS expression and cGMP contents of photoreceptor cells, visual cortex and retinogeniculate were increased in dark adaptation group compared with light group. Nutritional intervention could enhance the NOS staining in dark environment, increased the cGMP contents whether light or dark condition.

The distribution, expression and content of NO and cGMP are quite different in various light adaptation status. Taurine and micronutrient intervention may modurate the visual signal transmission or vision function mediated by the changes of NO or cGMP.