Taurine amplifies renal kallikrein and prevents salt-induced hypertension in Dahl rats.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether taurine reduces blood pressure by stimulating the renal kallikrein-kinin system.

METHODS:

The effects of taurine on blood pressure, urinary kallikrein activity and renal kallikrein gene expression were investigated in Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl-S) rats. The specificity of the action of taurine was verified by comparison with the action of beta-alanine, a carboxylic analogue of taurine. The effect of co-administration of the specific bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist Hoe 140 was also examined.

RESULTS:

Administration of taurine (3% in drinking water) for 4 weeks retarded the development of salt (4% sodium chloride diet)-induced hypertension. Systolic blood pressure at the end of the experiment was significantly higher in control rats than in taurine-treated rats. Urinary sodium excretion was not decreased by the reduction in blood pressure. The heart weight:body weight ratio was significantly lower, and urinary volume and kallikrein excretion were significantly higher, in taurine-treated rats. Renal kallikrein gene expression at weeks 1 and 4 was higher in taurine-treated rats. Systolic blood pressure 3 and 4 weeks after the administration of beta-alanine was slightly, but not significantly, lower than that of untreated rats on a high-salt diet, and was accompanied by a significantly lower body weight. Urinary kallikrein excretion decreased with a high-salt diet regardless of beta-alanine administration. Continuous systemic administration of Hoe 140 did not cause any significant alteration in blood pressure in Dahl-S rats that received taurine with a high-salt diet. Taurine also showed a renoprotective effect, as judged by a reduction in proteinuria.

CONCLUSION:

These results suggest that taurine is an effective antihypertensive agent for salt-induced hypertension. Although taurine activated renal kallikrein, further studies are required to confirm the participation of activated kallikrein in the antihypertensive, cardioprotective and renoprotective effects of taurine.

• Authors: M Ideishi, S Miura, T Sakai, M Sasaguri, Y Misumi, K Arakawa
• Journal: Journal of hypertension (J Hypertens) Vol. 12 Issue 6 Pg. 653-61 (Jun 1994) ISSN: 0263-6352 [Print] England
• PMID: 7963490 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• beta-Alanine
• Taurine
• Sodium Chloride
• icatibant
• Kallikreins
• Bradykinin

Topics

• Animals
• Blood Pressure (drug effects)
• Bradykinin (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Gene Expression (drug effects)
• Hypertension (prevention & control)
• Kallikreins (biosynthesis, genetics, urine)
• Kidney (drug effects, metabolism)
• Male
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred Strains
• Sodium Chloride (pharmacology)
• Taurine (pharmacology)
• beta-Alanine (pharmacology)