Protective effect of taurine on triorthocresyl phosphate (TOCP)-induced cytotoxicity in C6 glioma cells

Triorthocresyl phosphate (TOCP) an organophosphorus ester can cause neurotoxicity via oxidative stress pathway. Taurine is an antioxidant. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of taurine on TOCP-induced cytotoxicity in C6 glioma cell. The C6 glioma cells were pretreated with 0, 1, 3, and 9 mM of taurine for 30 min prior to 1 mM TOCP treatment. After 48 h, cell survival was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. The content of glutathione (GSH) and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were also analyzed by kits. Our results showed that survival of the glioma cells decreased in the group treated with TOCP alone and increased significantly in the groups pretreated with taurine in a concentration-dependent manner. TOCP induced decrease in the activity of GPx and the content of GSH. However, taurine prevented these decreases. Our results suggested that taurine has protective effect on TOCP-induced toxicity to glioma cells via elevating antioxidant capacity.