Protective effect of combined application of taurine and 3-hydroxy-1,2-dimethyl-4-pyridone on metal elements and neurotransmitters in brain after aluminum poisoning in rats

摘要

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of combination of taurine (Tau) and 3-hydroxy-1,2-dimethyl-4-pyri-done (deferiprone, DFP) in aluminum (Al)-exposed rat brain. Materials and methods: 70 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups: negative control group, Al-treated group, Tau intervention group, DFP low-dose group, DFP high-dose group, Tau + DFP low-dose group, and Tau + DFP high-dose group. The drugs were given via oral gavage. The animals of the negative control group were administered with saline 1 mL/(kgxd) for 8 weeks, while the other six groups were administered with Al chloride (A1C1_3-6H_20) 281.40 mg/(kgxd) for the first 4 weeks, then were treated with saline 1 mL/(kgxd), Tau 400 mg/(kgxd), DFP 13.82 mg/(kgxd), DFP 27.44 mg/(kgxd), Tau 400 mg/(kgxd) + DFP 13.82 mg/(kgxd), and Tau 400 mg/(kgxd)+ DFP 27.44 mg/(kgxd), respectively, for another 4 weeks. The contents of metal elements in the brain were detected by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), and the content of monoamine neurotransmitters and amino acid neurotransmitters in the brain were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: Al intake caused a significant increase of Al and Zn but a reduction of Mg and Cu in rat brain (p < 0.05). Al exposure also resulted in lower levels of noradrenaline (NE), epinephrine (E), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and glycine (Gly), y-aminobutyric acid (GABA), Tau, and higher levels of asparagine acid (Asp) and glutamic acid (Glu) in rat brains compared to the control group (p < 0.05). DFP influenced all the above parameters in the opposite direction except Gly. Tau treatment led to significantly lower levels of AI and Zn, and a significantly higher level of Cu (p < 0.05). Tau also significantly decreased Asp content, and increased contents of GABA and monoamine neurotransmitters except E (p < 0.05). Furthermore,the combined application of Tau and DFP was more effective than Tau and DFP alone. Conclusion; Both Tau and DFP contribute to excrete excess Al and regulate element balance in brain, and to improve the brain neurotransmitter disorder of rats exposed to Al. The combination of Tau and DFP may have neuroprotectives effect on Al-induced nervous dysfunction in rats.