This study aimed to determine the influence of antenatal
taurine supplementation on
taurine content in the brains of fetal rats with
intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Experiments were performed at the Central Laboratory of Bayi Children's Hospital Affiliated to Beijing Military General Hospital in China from January to June 2013. Fifteen pregnant rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal controls, an IUGR group and an IUGR + antenatal
taurine supplement group (
Taurine group) (n = 5). The IUGR model was induced using a
low-protein diet throughout gestation. Rats in the
taurine group were fed a diet supplemented with 300 mg/kg/day
taurine for 12 days after conception until natural delivery. Two fetal rats were randomly selected in every litter, and
taurine levels in the brains of rats were detected using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results showed that (1) the mean
body weight of the fetal rats in the normal control, IUGR and IUGR + antenatal
taurine supplement groups was 6.619 ± 0.4132, 4.509 ± 0.454, and 5.176 ± 0.436 g (F = 429.818, P < 0.01), respectively, and (2) that
taurine levels in the brains of the fetal rats in the normal control, IUGR and
taurine groups were (2.399 ± 0.134) × 10(5), (1.881 ± 0.166) × 10(5) and (2.170 ± 0.191) × 10(5) μg/g (F = 24.828, P < 0.01), respectively. Overall, our results indicated that
taurine levels in IUGR fetal rat brains were lower than in the control animals, and that antenatal
taurine supplementation could significantly increase
taurine levels in the brains of fetal rats with IUGR.