Therapeutic effect of taurine administration on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic injury

To determine the therapeutic efficacy of taurine administration on liver injury, the effect of taurine on hepatic lipid peroxide level following carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration was investigated. To CCl4 intoxicated rats (CCl4, 2 ml/kg, i.p.), 3 ml of a 10% aqueous solution of taurine was administered after CCl4 administration (at 12, 16, and 20 hr after), and rats were sacrificed at 24 hr after CCl4 administration in order to estimate the level of lipid peroxides in the liver. The decrease of hepatic lipid peroxidation induced by CCl4 was noticed in the taurine-treated rats. Taurine had no effect on mixed function oxidase activity in hepatic microsomes as well as no effect on hepatic antioxidant content in the CCl4-intoxicated rats. Hepatic taurine content decreased significantly 12 and 24 hr after CCl4 administration, whereas oral administration of taurine to CCl4-intoxicated rats was able to protect these rats from hepatic taurine depletion. These results suggest that hepatic taurine may play a critical role on the protection of hepatocytes against hepatotoxins such as CCl4 and the administration of taurine may be useful in the treatment of hepatotoxin-induced liver injury.