Taurine decreases lesion severity in the hearts of cardiomyopathic hamsters.
Cardiomyopathic Syrian hamsters develop necrotic lesions consequent upon calcium overload from 60 days of age onward. Taurine, given as a 0.1 M solution in place of drinking water for one month prior to sacrifice of animals of initial age 35 days, decreased the severity of subsequently developing cardiac lesions by 40%. Calcium concentration in the heart was decreased by 57%. Magnesium and iron concentrations were unaltered. Taurine given in a similar manner for 4 months had a protective effect, decreasing lesion severity by 21% and calcium concentration by 35%. Magnesium concentrations were increased by 12%. Compared to random-bred animals, cardiomyopathic hamsters at one and two months of age have the same concentrations of calcium, magnesium and iron in the quadrants of the heart, except in the left ventricle, which has significantly higher concentration of calcium. Calcium concentrations are 70%, 1320% and 2100% higher respectively in one month, two month and five month old animals. Five month old animals differ slightly but significantly in iron (17% decrease) and magnesium concentrations (17% increase). Cardiomyopathic hamsters have insignificant differences in beta-adrenergic receptor density compared to random-bred animals and have a significantly higher rate of taurine influx.