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Published in: Metabolic Brain Disease 1/2015

01-02-2015 | Research Article

Antenatal taurine improves neuronal regeneration in fetal rats with intrauterine growth restriction by inhibiting the Rho-ROCK signal pathway

Authors: Jing Liu, Hua-Wei Wang, Fang Liu, Xiao-Feng Wang

Published in: Metabolic Brain Disease | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

The Rho-ROCK signal pathway is an important mediator of inhibitory signals that blocks central nervous cell regeneration. Here, we investigated whether antenatal taurine improved neuronal regeneration in fetal rats with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) by inhibiting this pathway. Thirty pregnant rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, IUGR, and IUGR + antenatal taurine supplementation (taurine group). The mRNA levels of Ras homolog gene A (Rho A), Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase 2 (ROCK2), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were detected using real-time quantitative PCR. RhoA, ROCK2 and PCNA-positive cells were counted using immunohistochemistry. Antenatal taurine supplementation decreased RhoA and Rock2 mRNA expression, increased PCNA mRNA expression, and significantly decreased RhoA, ROCK2-positive and increased PCNA-positive cell counts in IUGR fetal rat brain tissues (p < 0.05). Thus, antenatal taurine supplementation inhibited the expression of key Rho-ROCK signal molecules and improved IUGR fetal brain development.
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Metadata
Title
Antenatal taurine improves neuronal regeneration in fetal rats with intrauterine growth restriction by inhibiting the Rho-ROCK signal pathway
Authors
Jing Liu
Hua-Wei Wang
Fang Liu
Xiao-Feng Wang
Publication date
01-02-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Metabolic Brain Disease / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 0885-7490
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7365
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-014-9572-x

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