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  • Title: Taurine depletion by beta-alanine inhibits induction of hepatotoxicity in mice treated acutely with carbon tetrachloride.
    Author: Choi D, Kim SJ, Kwon DY, Lee SY, Kim YC.
    Journal: Adv Exp Med Biol; 2009; 643():305-11. PubMed ID: 19239161.
    Abstract:
    We examined the effect of taurine depletion on hepatic sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism and carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury. Mice were supplemented with beta-alanine (3%) in drinking water for one week. beta-Alanine intake significantly reduced hepatic taurine levels, but did not influence S-adenosylmethionine, S-adenosylhomocysteine, glutathione levels or methionine adenosyltransferase activity in liver. However, hepatic cysteine levels were significantly elevated by beta-alanine administration. Hepatotoxicity caused by carbon tetrachloride (50 microl/kg, ip) in mice fed beta-alanine was decreased, as determined by changes in serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities. Hepatic glutathione and taurine levels after a carbon tetrachloride challenge were markedly increased by beta-alanine exposure. The results suggest that enhanced availability of cysteine for synthesis of glutathione and/or taurine may account for the hepatoprotective effects of beta-alanine against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury.
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