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Protective Role of Taurine Against Morphine-Induced Neurotoxicity in C6 Cells via Inhibition of Oxidative Stress

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Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the protective role of taurine (2-aminoethanesulphonicacid) against morphine-induced neurotoxicity in C6 cells. It was found that taurine significantly increased the viability of C6 cells treated by morphine, showing the neuroprotective role against morphine-induced neurotoxicity. However, such neuroprotective effect of taurine could not be blocked by bicuculline, an antagonist of gamma-amino butyrate (GABA) receptor. To determine the oxidative damage induced by morphine, the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured in C6 cells. The decreased activities of SOD, CAT, and GPx in C6 cells were observed after morphine treatment for 48 h. However, taurine administration effectively ameliorated morphine-induced oxidative insult. To estimate anti-apoptosis effect of taurine, flow cytometry analysis as well as detection for caspase-3 and Bcl-2 expressions was performed after morphine exposure for 48 h. It was found that Bcl-2 expression was down regulated by morphine, whereas taurine could reverse morphine-induced decrease in Bcl-2 expression. Taurine showed no effect on caspase-3 expression. Collectively, the results show that taurine possesses the capability to ameliorate morphine-induced oxidative insult and apoptosis in C6 cells, probably due to its antioxidant activity rather than activation of GABA receptors.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Project of the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (30870888, 30970938) and National Innovative Drug Development (2008ZX09305-008).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Chengdu Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, #1 Keyuan Road 4, Gaopeng Street, High Technological Development Zone, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Jiaqing Zhou, Yan Li, Guangyan Yan, Qian Bu, Lei Lv, Yanzhu Yang, Jinxuan Zhao, Xue Shao, Yi Deng, Ruimin Zhu, Yinglan Zhao & Xiaobo Cen

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  1. Jiaqing Zhou
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  2. Yan Li
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  3. Guangyan Yan
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  6. Yanzhu Yang
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  7. Jinxuan Zhao
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  10. Ruimin Zhu
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  11. Yinglan Zhao
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  12. Xiaobo Cen
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Correspondence to Xiaobo Cen.

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Jiaqing Zhou and Yan Li contributed equally to this study.

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Zhou, J., Li, Y., Yan, G. et al. Protective Role of Taurine Against Morphine-Induced Neurotoxicity in C6 Cells via Inhibition of Oxidative Stress. Neurotox Res 20, 334–342 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12640-011-9247-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12640-011-9247-x

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