Effects of Taurine and Age on Cerebellum Antioxidant Status and Oxidative Stress

Background Aging is an inevitable biological process characterized by a general decline in various physiological functions and resistance to stress. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of taurine on advanced oxidation protein products, malondialdehyde, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase, in young and middle-aged rat cerebellum. Materials and methods Middle-aged (13–14 months of age) male albino Wistar rats were divided into two groups as the middle-aged control and the middle-aged taurine groups. Young (6–7 weeks of age) male albino Wistar rats were divided into two groups as the young control and the young taurine groups. While the rats in the control groups were given 0.5 mL of isotonic sodium chloride, the others were given taurine by intraperitoneal injection at a single dose of 200 mg/kg/day for 7 days. Results The cerebellum glutathione levels were significantly higher in the control group of young rats when compared to the control group of middle-aged rats ( p < 0.05). The cerebellum malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower in the taurine group of middle-aged rats when compared to the middle-aged control ( p < 0.05). The cerebellum glutathione levels were increased in the taurine group of middle-aged rats when compared to the middle-aged control group ( p < 0.05). The cerebellum malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower in the young taurine group when compared to the young control ( p < 0.05). Conclusion In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that exogenous taurine can prevent the increased production of age-related lipid peroxidation products and might have a potential role for the retardation of age-related oxidative events.