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Taurine supplementation is recommended during perinatal life to provide sufficient taurine for fetuses and newborns. Furthermore, perinatal taurine supplementation affects cardiovascular and metabolic functions in adult life. In adults, taurine supplementation is reported to improve exercise training. The present study explored the effects of perinatal taurine supplementation followed by dynamic exercise training on cardiovascular and metabolic functions in adult male rats. Pregnant Wistar rats were maintained on water containing or lacking 3% taurine from conception to weaning. After weaning, male offspring were fed normal rat chow and water throughout the study. At 4 weeks of age, the taurine-treated and taurine-untreated rats were subjected to either a swimming exercise protocol (10-30 min a day, 5 day a week) for 12 weeks (Ex and TEx) or remained sedentary (C and T). At 16 weeks of age, kidney weight, mean arterial pressure, baroreflex sensitivity, plasma leptin, plasma triglyceride, blood urea nitrogen, plasma creatinine, and SGOT were not significantly different among the four groups. Compared to the control, perinatal taurine supplementation alone did not significantly affect any of the measured cardiovascular and metabolic parameters. Exercise training significantly decreased bodyweight, heart rate, and visceral adipocyte size, irrespective of perinatal taurine supplementation, but increased SGPT and heart weight when compared to the control. However, the effect of exercise on SGPT, but not heart weight, was abolished by perinatal taurine supplementation. These data indicate that perinatal taurine supplementation not only preserves the beneficial effects of dynamic exercise training on cardiovascular and metabolic functions but also prevents exercise-induced organ damage in adult male rats.

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Maternal dyslipidemia induces metabolic and cardiovascular disorders in adult offspring. This study tests the hypothesis that perinatal taurine supplementation prevents the adverse effects of maternal dyslipidemia on growth and cardiovascular function in adult rat offspring. Female Wistar rats were fed normal rat chow and water with (Dyslipidemia) or without dyslipidemia induction (Control) by intraperitoneal Triton WR-1339 injection, three times a week for 4 weeks. The female Control and Dyslipidemia rats were supplemented with (Control+T, Dyslipidemia+T) or without 3% taurine in water from conception to weaning. After weaning, male and female offspring were fed normal rat chow and water throughout the experiment. At 16 weeks of age, body weights significantly increased in male but not female Dyslipidemia compared to other groups, while visceral fat content significantly increased in both male and female Dyslipidemia groups. Further, both sexes displayed similar high fasting blood sugar and normal plasma leptin levels among the groups. While plasma total cholesterol and triglycerides significantly increased only in female Dyslipidemia, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased in both male and female Dyslipidemia groups. Mean arterial pressures and heart rates significantly increased, while baroreflex sensitivity decreased in male and female Dyslipidemia compared to all other groups. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol did not significantly different among male or female groups. These changes of the male and female Dyslipidemia group were ameliorated by perinatal taurine supplementation. The present study indicates that perinatal taurine supplementation prevents the adverse effects of maternal dyslipidemia on growth and cardiovascular function in both male and female, adult offspring.

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This study aimed to investigate the effects of Cordyceps sinensis extract (CSE) and Gymnema inodorum extract (GIE), used alone and combined, on antiadipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Oil Red O staining was used to examine the effects of these extracts on inhibition of intracellular lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and on lipid droplet morphology. Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy was used to examine biomolecular changes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The pancreatic lipase assay was used to evaluate the inhibitory effects of CSE and GIE on pancreatic lipase activity. Taken together, the results indicated that CSE, GIE, and their combination suppressed lipid accumulation. The FTIR microspectroscopy results indicated that CSE, GIE, and their combination had inhibitory effects on lipid accumulation in the adipocytes. Compared with the untreated adipocytes, the signal intensity and integrated areas of glycogen and other carbohydrates, the acyl chain of phospholipids, and the lipid/protein ratios of the CSE, GIE, alone, and combined treated adipocytes were significantly lower (p < 0.05). Combination treatment resulted in a synergistic effect on lipid accumulation reduction in the adipocytes. Principal component analysis of the biomolecular changes revealed six distinct clusters in the FTIR spectra of the sample cells. The pancreatic lipase assay results indicated that CSE and GIE inhibited the pancreatic lipase activity in a dose-dependent manner (mean ± standard error of the mean IC50 values, 2312.44 ± 176.55 µg mL-1 and 982.24 ± 44.40 µg mL-1, resp.). Our findings indicated that FTIR microspectroscopy has potential application for evaluation of the effectiveness of medicinal plants and for the development of infrared biochemical obesity markers useful for treating patients with obesity. These results suggested that use of CSE and GIE alone and in combination may be efficacious as a complementary therapy for hyperlipidemia and obesity management. However, clinical trials in animals and humans must first be completed.

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Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf., commonly known as lemongrass, possesses strong antioxidant and cardiotonic properties. Lemongrass water extract contains several polyphenolic compounds including gallic acid, isoquercetin, quercetin, rutin, catechin and tannic acid. Rutin, isoquercetin catechin and quercetin are the flavonoids most abundantly found in the extract. The extract significantly decreased total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and atherogenic index in rats after treatment (p < 0.05). Expression of genes and protein of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP1c) and HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR) was also lowered significantly in treated groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, serum antioxidant capacity increased in treated rats in comparison with untreated ones (p < 0.05) and was associated with decreased serum lipid peroxidation.

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This study tests the hypothesis that perinatal taurine supplementation prevents diabetes mellitus and hypertension in adult offspring of maternal diabetic rats. Female Wistar rats were fed normal rat chow and tap water with (Diabetes group) or without diabetic induction by intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection (Control group) before pregnancy. Then, they were supplemented with 3% taurine in water (Control+T and Diabetes+T groups) or water alone from conception to weaning. After weaning, both male and female offspring were fed normal rat chow and tap water throughout the study. Blood chemistry and cardiovascular parameters were studied in 16-week old rats. Body, heart, and kidney weights were not significantly different among the eight groups. Further, lipid profiles except triglyceride were not significantly different among male and female groups, while male Diabetes displayed increased fasting blood glucose, decreased plasma insulin, and increased plasma triglyceride compared to other groups. Compared to Control, mean arterial pressures significantly increased and baroreflex control of heart rate decreased in both male and female Diabetes, while heart rates significantly decreased in male but increased in female Diabetes group. Although perinatal taurine supplementation did not affect any measured parameters in Control groups, it abolished the adverse effects of maternal diabetes on fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin, lipid profiles, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and baroreflex sensitivity in adult male and female offspring. The present study indicates that maternal diabetes mellitus induces metabolic and cardiovascular defects more in male than female adult offspring, and these adverse effects can be prevented by perinatal taurine supplementation.

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BACKGROUND: Cymbopogon citratus, Stapf(CCS) is commonly known as lemon grass. Previous studies showed that it has a strong antioxidant property and have been traditionally used as analgesic, antipyretic, antiseptic in SoutheastAsia. However, the effect of CCS on antioxidant defense system has not been demonstrated. OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of CCS water extract on rat antioxidant defense system, especially on the expression of y-glutamylcysteine ligase (γ-GCL) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). MATERIAL AND METHOD: The CCS water extract was screenedfor its phytochemical contents and antioxidant activity in vitro. Moreover, the extract was studied in rats to evaluate its effects in vivo. Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged eight weeks (250±20 g) were orally administered with CCS at 250, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg/day for one month. RESULTS: The extract contained flavonoids (496.17 mg gallic acid/g CCS extract) and phenolic compounds (4,020.18 mg catechin/g CCS extract). The scavenging activity (DPPH assay) of the extract was demonstrated by EC50 of 917.76±86.89 µg/ ml whereas the EC50 of the potent antioxidant, vitamin C was 31.22±1.84 µg/ml. In the animals, the protein expression of antioxidant enzymes, γGCL and HO-1 was significantly increased in the high dose-treated animals (1,000 mg/kg/day). This was consistent with elevation ofserum total antioxidant capacity. CONCLUSION: Taken together the present study provides evidence that CCS water extract exhibits antioxidant activity and antioxidant enzymes induction in vivo.

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Perinatal taurine depletion followed by high sugar intake (postweaning) alters the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and glucose regulation in adult female rats. This study tests the hypothesis that in adult female rats, RAS and estrogen contribute to insulin resistance resulting from perinatal taurine imbalance. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed normal rat chow with 3% ß-alanine (taurine depletion, TD), 3% taurine (taurine supplementation, TS), or water alone (control, C) from conception to weaning. Their female offspring were fed normal rat chow with 5% glucose in water (TDG, TSG, CG) or water alone (TDW, TSW, CW) throughout the experiment. At 7-8 weeks of age, animals were studied with or without captopril inhibition of the RAS and with or without estrogen receptor inhibition by tamoxifen. Compared to CW and CG groups, perinatal taurine depletion but not supplementation slightly increased plasma insulin levels. High sugar intake slightly increased plasma insulin only in TSG. Captopril treatment significantly increased plasma insulin in all groups except CG (the greatest increase was in TDG). Changes in insulin resistance and insulin secretion paralleled the changes in plasma insulin levels. In contrast, tamoxifen treatment increased insulin resistance and decreased insulin secretion only in TDG and this group displayed hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance. These data indicate that perinatal taurine imbalance alters the interplay of RAS and estrogen on glucose-insulin regulation in adult female rats.

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Perinatal taurine excess or deficiency influences adult health and disease, especially relative to the autonomic nervous system. This study tests the hypothesis that perinatal taurine exposure influences adult autonomic nervous system control of arterial pressure in response to acute electrical tooth pulp stimulation. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with normal rat chow with 3% ß-alanine (taurine depletion, TD), 3% taurine (taurine supplementation, TS), or water alone (control, C) from conception to weaning. Their male offspring were fed with normal rat chow and tap water throughout the experiment. At 8-10 weeks of age, blood chemistry, arterial pressure, heart rate, and renal sympathetic nerve activity were measured in anesthetized rats. Age, body weight, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, plasma electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen, plasma creatinine, and plasma cortisol were not significantly different among the three groups. Before tooth pulp stimulation, low- (0.3-0.5 Hz) and high-frequency (0.5-4.0 Hz) power spectral densities of arterial pressure were not significantly different among groups while the power spectral densities of renal sympathetic nerve activity were significantly decreased in TD compared to control rats. Tooth pulp stimulation did not change arterial pressure, heart rate, renal sympathetic nerve, and arterial pressure power spectral densities in the 0.3-4.0 Hz spectrum or renal sympathetic nerve firing rate in any group. In contrast, perinatal taurine imbalance disturbed very-low-frequency power spectral densities of both arterial pressure and renal sympathetic nerve activity (below 0.1 Hz), both before and after the tooth pulp stimulation. The power densities of TS were most sensitive to ganglionic blockade and central adrenergic inhibition, while those of TD were sensitive to both central and peripheral adrenergic inhibition. The present data indicate that perinatal taurine imbalance can lead to aberrant autonomic nervous system responses in adult male rats.

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In adult rats, perinatal taurine depletion followed by high sugar intake alters neural and renal control of arterial pressure via the renin-angiotensin system. This study tests the hypothesis that perinatal taurine supplementation predisposes adult female rats to the adverse arterial pressure effect of high sugar intake via the renin-angiotensin system, rather than via estrogen. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed normal rat chow with 3% taurine (taurine supplementation, TS) or water alone (control, C) from conception to weaning. Their female offspring were fed normal rat chow with either 5% glucose in tap water (TSG, CG) or tap water alone (TSW, CW). At 7-8 weeks of age, the female offspring's renin-angiotensin system or estrogen receptors were inhibited by captopril or tamoxifen, respectively. Body weight, heart weight, kidney weight, mean arterial pressures (MAP), and heart rates were not significantly different among groups without captopril or tamoxifen. Captopril (but not tamoxifen) decreased MAP but not heart rates in all groups. In TSG compared to TSW, CW, and CG groups, baroreflex sensitivity of heart rate (BSHR) and renal nerve activity (BSRA) were significantly decreased. Neither captopril nor tamoxifen altered BSHR in TSG, but tamoxifen (but not captopril) restored TSG BSRA to CW or CG control levels. Perinatal taurine supplementation did not disturb sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activity in the adult rats on high or basal sugar intake. Compared to its effect in CW and CG groups, tamoxifen increased sympathetic but decreased parasympathetic activity less in TSG and TSW groups. Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system did not affect autonomic nerve activity in any group. These data suggest that in adult female rats that are perinatally supplemented with taurine, high sugar intake after weaning blunts arterial baroreflex via an estrogen (but not renin-angiotensin) mechanism.

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Perinatal taurine depletion leads to several physiological impairments in adult life, in part, due to taurine's effects on the renin-angiotensin system, a crucial regulator of growth and differentiation during early life. The present study tests the hypothesis that perinatal taurine depletion predisposes adult female rats to impaired baroreceptor control of arterial pressure by altering the renin-angiotensin system. Female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were fed normal rat chow and from conception to weaning drank 3% beta-alanine in water (taurine depletion, TD) or water alone (Control, C). Female offspring ate a normal rat chow and drank water with (G) or without (W) 5% glucose throughout the experiment. To test the possible role of the renin-angiotensin system, 50% of the rats received captopril (an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, 400 mg/L) from 7 days before parameter measurements until the end of experiment. At 7-8 weeks of age, arterial pressure, heart rate, baroreflex control of heart rate and renal nerve activity were studied in either conscious, freely moving or anesthetized rats. Perinatal taurine depletion did not alter resting mean arterial pressure or heart rate in the adult female offspring that received either high or normal sugar intake. Captopril treatment slightly decreased mean arterial pressure but not heart rate in all groups. Compared to controls, only the TDG rats displayed blunted baroreflex responses. Captopril treatment normalized baroreflex sensitivity in TDG. The present data indicate that in perinatal taurine depleted female rats, the renin-angiotensin system underlines the ability of high sugar intake to blunt baroreceptor responses.

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The present study tests the sex-dependent effect of perinatal taurine exposure on arterial pressure control in adults. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed normal rat chow with 3% beta-alanine (taurine depletion,TD), 3% taurine (taurine supplementation,TS) or water alone (C) from conception to weaning. Their male and female offspring were then fed normal rat chow and tap water with 5% glucose (C with glucose, CG; TD with glucose, TDG; TS with glucose, TSG) or water alone (CW, TDW or TSW). At 7-8 weeks of age, they were studied in a conscious condition. Body weights were lower in male and female TDG and male TDW rats. Kidney to body weights increased in female TSW but not TSG. Plasma sodium and potassium were not significantly different among males. Among females, plasma sodium levels were lower in all glucose treated groups while plasma potassium levels were lower only in TDG. Hematocrit, fasting blood glucose, and glucose tolerance were not significantly different between the sexes. Mean arterial pressure increased in male TDG, TSW, and TSG while in the females, mean arterial pressure increased in TabstractDW, TDG, and TSG. Heart rates were not significantly different between the sexes. The present data indicate that perinatal taurine exposure alters arterial pressure control of adult rats and this effect is gender specific.

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