The protective effects of taurine against abnormal changes of cardiac function and myocardial injury in rats under experimental stress

Isoproterenol (Iso) induced acute stress on Wistar rats as model and the protective effects of taurine (Tau) on cardiac function and against pathological changes of myocardium were studied. The results showed that as compared with initial period of experiment, the cardiac functional parameters such as RR, QS_(2), PEP, ZO and FT were significantly increased, but HR, HI, CO and C-wave were significantly reduced in Iso group. As for taurine and control groups, except for HI, other parameters were not changed significantly. The pathological examination of Iso group showed that myocardium was injured accompanied by swelling and break or necrosis of myocardial fiber. There were no significant pathological changes for taurine and control group. It suggested that taurine can protect stressed rats from myocardial injury, arrhythmia and impairment of systolic and diastolic function.