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. 2013:2013:240537.
doi: 10.1155/2013/240537. Epub 2013 Mar 21.

Ethanol- and/or Taurine-Induced Oxidative Stress in Chick Embryos

Emily J Berning  1 , Noah Bernhardson, Kelly Coleman, Dina A Farhat, Courtney M Gushrowski, Alison Lanctot, Benjamin H Maddock, Kathryn G Michels, Luke A Mugge, Catherine M Nass, Sarah M Yearsley, Robert R Miller Jr
Affiliations

Ethanol- and/or Taurine-Induced Oxidative Stress in Chick Embryos

Emily J Berning et al. J Amino Acids. 2013.

Abstract

Because taurine alleviates ethanol- (EtOH-) induced lipid peroxidation and liver damage in rats, we asked whether exogenous taurine could alleviate EtOH-induced oxidative stress in chick embryos. Exogenous EtOH (1.5 mmol/Kg egg or 3 mmol/Kg egg), taurine (4 μmol/Kg egg), or EtOH and taurine (1.5 mmol EtOH and 4 μmol taurine/Kg egg or 3 mmol EtOH and 4 μmol taurine/Kg egg) were injected into fertile chicken eggs during the first three days of embryonic development (E0-2). At 11 days of development (midembryogenesis), serum taurine levels and brain caspase-3 activities, homocysteine (HoCys) levels, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, membrane fatty acid composition, and lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) levels were measured. Early embryonic EtOH exposure caused increased brain apoptosis rates (caspase-3 activities); increased brain HoCys levels; increased oxidative-stress, as measured by decreased brain GSH levels; decreased brain long-chain polyunsaturated levels; and increased brain LPO levels. Although taurine is reported to be an antioxidant, exogenous taurine was embryopathic and caused increased apoptosis rates (caspase-3 activities); increased brain HoCys levels; increased oxidative-stress (decreased brain GSH levels); decreased brain long-chain polyunsaturated levels; and increased brain LPO levels. Combined EtOH and taurine treatments also caused increased apoptosis rates and oxidative stress.

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Figure 1
Figure 1
Homocysteine removal via the remethylation and transsulfuration pathways with reference to glutathione and taurine synthesis.
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