Modulatory Effects of Taurine on Metabolic and Oxidative Stress Parameters in a Mice Model of Muscle Overuse

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the regulatory effects of taurine on the biochemical parameters of muscle injury by overuse.

Methods: Male Swiss mice were divided into four groups: control (Ctrl), overuse (Ov), taurine (Tau), and overuse plus taurine (OvTau). High-intensity exercise sessions were administered for 21 d with concomitant subcutaneous injections of taurine (150 mg/kg). The mice were then sacrificed. The quadriceps muscles were surgically removed for subsequent histologic analysis and evaluation of mitochondrial function, oxidative stress parameters, tissue repair, and DNA damage markers.

Results: The Ov group showed significant differences compared with the Ctrl group (all P <0.05). The fiber area decreased by 49.34%, whereas the centralized nuclei contents (Ctrl = 1.33%; Ov = 28.67%), membrane potential (Ctrl = 179.05 arbitrary fluorescence units (AFUs), Ctrl = 198.11 AFUs; Ov = 482.95 AFUs, Ov = 461.6 AFUs), complex I activity (Ctrl = 20.45 nmol ⋅ min ⋅ mg protein, Ov = 45.25 nmol ⋅ min ⋅ mg protein), hydrogen peroxide (Ctrl = 1.08 relative fluorescence unit (RFU) ⋅ sec ⋅ mg protein, Ctrl = 0.23 RFU ⋅ sec ⋅ mg protein; Ov = 5.02 RFU ⋅ sec ⋅ mg protein, Ov = 0.26 RFU ⋅ sec ⋅ mg protein) and malondialdehyde (Ctrl = 0.03 nmol ⋅ mg ⋅ protein, Ov = 0.06 nmol ⋅ mg ⋅ protein) levels, and DNA damage (Ctrl = 7.17%, Ov = 31.17%; Ctrl = 4.17, Ov = 72.5) were increased. Taurine administration reduced the number of centralized nuclei (OvTau = 5%), hydrogen peroxide levels (OvTau = 2.81 RFU ⋅ sec ⋅ mg protein, OvTaus = 1.54 RFU ⋅ sec ⋅ mg protein), membrane potential (OvTau = 220.18 AFUs, OvTaus = 235.28 AFUs), lipid peroxidation (OvTau = 0.02 nmol/mg protein), and DNA damage (OvTau = 21.33%, OvTau = 47.83) and increased the fiber area by 54% (all P <0.05).

Conclusion: Taken together, these data suggest that taurine supplementation modulates various cellular remodeling parameters after overuse-induced muscle damage, and that these positive effects may be related to its antioxidant capacity.