Perinatal Taurine Supplementation Preserves the Benefits of Dynamic Exercise Training on Cardiovascular and Metabolic...

Taurine supplementation is recommended during perinatal life to provide sufficient taurine for fetuses and newborns. Furthermore, perinatal taurine supplementation affects cardiovascular and metabolic functions in adult life. In adults, taurine supplementation is reported to improve exercise training. The present study explored the effects of perinatal taurine supplementation followed by dynamic exercise training on cardiovascular and metabolic functions in adult male rats. Pregnant Wistar rats were maintained on water containing or lacking 3% taurine from conception to weaning. After weaning, male offspring were fed normal rat chow and water throughout the study. At 4 weeks of age, the taurine-treated and taurine-untreated rats were subjected to either a swimming exercise protocol (10-30 min a day, 5 day a week) for 12 weeks (Ex and TEx) or remained sedentary (C and T). At 16 weeks of age, kidney weight, mean arterial pressure, baroreflex sensitivity, plasma leptin, plasma triglyceride, blood urea nitrogen, plasma creatinine, and SGOT were not significantly different among the four groups. Compared to the control, perinatal taurine supplementation alone did not significantly affect any of the measured cardiovascular and metabolic parameters. Exercise training significantly decreased bodyweight, heart rate, and visceral adipocyte size, irrespective of perinatal taurine supplementation, but increased SGPT and heart weight when compared to the control. However, the effect of exercise on SGPT, but not heart weight, was abolished by perinatal taurine supplementation. These data indicate that perinatal taurine supplementation not only preserves the beneficial effects of dynamic exercise training on cardiovascular and metabolic functions but also prevents exercise-induced organ damage in adult male rats.