Taurine at early reperfusion significantly reduces myocardial damage and preserves cardiac function in the isolated rat heart

Summary Objective The Myocardial protective effects of taurine (TA) are well known. We investigated the optimal phase of giving taurine to reduce myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury in isolated rat hearts. Methods Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 20 min of global ischaemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion under three different conditions: global ischaemia alone (control group; n = 8); pre-ischaemic administration of taurine (pre-TA group; n = 8), perfusion with 10 mmol/L taurine for 10 min just before ischaemia; post-ischaemic administration of taurine (post-TA group; n = 8), perfusion with 10 mmol/L taurine for the first 10 min of reperfusion. Ventricular functional and biochemical variables, the area at risk (AAR), and infarct size (IS) after reperfusion were compared between groups. Results Recovery of ventricular function in the post-TA group was significantly greater than that in the control and pre-TA groups in terms of left ventricular pressure and rate-pressure product. Lipid peroxide product as a marker of oxidant stress in the post-TA group was significantly less than that in the control and pre-TA groups. AAR relative to left ventricular area in the post-TA group was significantly less than that in the control and pre-TA groups. IS relative to AAR in the post-TA group was significantly less than that in the control group. Conclusion Taurine administered before or after ischaemia prevents infarction; being a potent free radical scavenging antioxidant, it reduced myocardial injury and provided significantly better functional recovery when given immediately after reperfusion.