Pansani, Mariele Castilho [UNESP]Gaiolla, Paula Schmidt Azevedo [UNESP]Murino Rafacho, Bruna Paola [UNESP]Minicucci, Marcos Ferreira [UNESP]Chiuso-Minicucci, Fernanda [UNESP]Zorzella-Pezavento, Sofia Goncalves [UNESP]Marchini, Julio SergioPadovan, Gilberto JoaoFernandes, Ana Angelica Henrique [UNESP]Matsubara, Beatriz Bojikian [UNESP]Matsubara, Luiz Shiguero [UNESP]Zornoff, Leonardo Antonio Mamede [UNESP]Paiva, Sergio Alberto Rupp de [UNESP]2014-05-202014-05-202012-07-23Plos One. San Francisco: Public Library Science, v. 7, n. 7, p. 6, 2012.1932-6203http://hdl.handle.net/11449/18143Introduction: Micronutrient deficiency is observed in heart failure patients. Taurine, for example, represents 50% of total free amino acids in the heart, and in vivo studies have linked taurine deficiency with cardiomyopathy.Methods: Thirty-four male Wistar rats (body weight = 100 g) were weighed and randomly assigned to one of two groups: Control (C) or taurine-deficient (T (-)). Beta-alanine at a concentration of 3% was added to the animals' water to induce taurine deficiency in the T (-) group. on day 30, the rats were individually submitted to echocardiography; morphometrical and histopathological evaluation and metalloproteinase activity, oxidative stress and inflammation evaluation were performed. Tissue samples were collected to determine the taurine concentration in the heart.Results: Taurine deficiency led to decreases in: ventricular wall thickness, left ventricle dry weight, myocyte sectional area, left ventricle posterior wall thickness and ventricular geometry. With regard to heart function, the velocity of the A wave, the ratio between the E and A wave, the ejection fraction, fractional shortening and cardiac output values were decreased in T () rats, suggesting abnormal diastolic and systolic function. Increased fibrosis, inflammation and increased activation of metalloproteinases were not observed. Oxidative stress was increased in deficient animals.Conclusions: These data suggest that taurine deficiency promotes structural and functional cardiac alterations with unique characteristics.6engArtigo10.1371/journal.pone.0041439WOS:000306687700090Acesso abertoWOS000306687700090.pdf699097712234079563098351379987665016839015394547121314080140264774387040344716730000-0002-5843-6232