EFFECTS OF TAURINE ON APOPTOSIS OF PHOTORECEPTORS AND NF?B/CASPASE-1 PATHWAY IN PHOTOCHEMICAL DAMAGE / 营养学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the effects of taurine (Tau) on photoreceptor apoptosis and investigate the mechanism. Method: Seventy rats were randomly divided into control group (Cont) and 4% taurine supplementation group (Tau). The subjects were exposed to the cool white light (3000?200 lx)for 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 or 24 h . The apoptotic index (AI) of photoreceptor was evaluated by TUNEL method. Meanwhile, levels of p65 in nuclear and caspase-1 were determined by Western-blot analysis and I?Ba mRNA was detected by RT-PCR . Results: After 9 h exposure, scattered TUNEL positive photoreceptors were found in Tau group, and each AI was lower than the corresponding control (P