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Nutritional Neuroscience
An International Journal on Nutrition, Diet and Nervous System
Volume 16, 2013 - Issue 6
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Original research papers

Antenatal taurine supplementation improves cerebral neurogenesis in fetal rats with intrauterine growth restriction through the PKA-CREB signal pathway

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Pages 282-287 | Published online: 15 Nov 2013
 

Abstract

Objective

This study seeks to explore whether antenatal supplement of taurine may improve the brain development of fetal rats with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) via the protein kinase A-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element protein (PKA-CREB) pathway.

Methods

Fifteen pregnant rats were randomly divided into control group, IUGR model, and IUGR with antenatal taurine supplement group. Brain tissues were obtained immediately after rats were born. PKA-CREB signal pathway activity and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) mRNA and protein levels were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry stains, whereas immunoreactive cells of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were detected by immunohistochemistry stains.

Results

The results showed that: (1) In the IUGR group, a greater number of PCNA and NSE immunoreactive cells were found in brain tissues compared with controls, and prenatal taurine supplementation led to a further increase. (2) Expression of PKA, CREB, and GDNF were increased in mRNA and protein levels due to taurine supplementation.

Discussion

Antenatal taurine supplementation shows effects of promotion of cell proliferation and activation of neurotrophic factors on fetal rat brain in a model of IUGR by activating the PKA-CREB signal pathway, increasing expression of neurotrophic factors, and promoting cell proliferation to counteract neuron loss caused by IUGR.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (81170577). Every author contributes equally to this paper.

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