International Journal of Pediatrics 2014;41(6):585-590

doi:10.3760/cma.j.issn.1673-4408.2014.06.004

Effects of taurine on the development of the mammalian brain and anti-hypoxic ischemic brain damage

Jixuan LUO ; Siyun SHU ; Lin MA ; Sheng WU

Keywords

Inhibitory amino acid; Brain development; Anti-oxidative stress; Anti-inflammatory; Anti-apoptosis

Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

As an inhibitory amino acid similar to gama-aminobutyric acid,taurine can activate the corticostriatal pathway as an endogenous ligand for glycine receptors,establishing equilibrium between the excitatory and inhibitory processes in the brain.In mammalian brains,taurine concentrations increase during the developmental period of the brain until weaning,and subsequently decline reaching stable concentrations in adulthood.With abilities of anti-oxidative stress,anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis,taurine can improve the hypoxic-ischemic brain injury,promote the proliferation and differentiation of neurons and affect brain development,It needs more investigations to prove when and how taurine supplementation during gestation,baby,children or adult can assist the development of the brain and prevent the damage of the brain from hypoxic and ischemic damage.