抄録
Taurine has been considered to function as a neurotrophic factor during development of the central nervous system. In this study, we evaluated the effect of neonatal oral administration of taurine on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in the developing hippocampus. Pregnant C57BL/6 mice were administered with taurine diluted in drinking water (400 mg/kg/day) from gestation day 17 to weaning period so as to dose taurine to newborn pups via maternal milk. Mice of the taurine-administered and control groups were processed for ELISA analysis of brain BDNF protein levels at 3, 4 and 6 weeks of age. Animals were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital and decapitated. Fresh hippocampal and cortical tissues were homogenized in lysis buffer. Homogenates were centrifuged at 2,000 g for 20 min, and supernatants were treated with a immunoassay kit (BDNF Emax, Promega). The BDNF protein levels in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex declined from 3 to 6 weeks of age. The administration of taurine significantly facilitated the expression of BDNF protein in the hippocampus at 3 and 4 weeks after birth. These deta suggest that BDNF may be a factor to mediate the effects of taurine on early postnatal development of the hippocampus. [Jpn J Physiol 54 Suppl:S226 (2004)]
