Effects of taurine mixed with alcohol in a murine model of alcohol hangover. Behavioral and morphological approach

SILVIA E CARBONE; RODOLFO CUTRERA; NICOLÁS BIGOURDAN; ALIPIO PINTO; JORGE GOLDSTEIN

Mar del Plata, Bs. As.

Congreso; LXIII Ruenión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica; 2018

SAIC-SAFIS-

The amino acid Taurine (TAU) is one of the main components of energy drinks. Its use has become popular, mixed with alcohol (OH). The objective of this work was to study the possible behavioral and neurodegenerative effects of TAU in an experimental model of alcohol hangover (AH) in mice. Neuromuscular coordination, muscle tension and presence of early signs of neurodegeneration were evaluated in male mice (n=10-12/group) treated with OH (3.8 mg/kg, i.p.) and/or TAU (190 mg/kg, i.p.). Controls were injected with saline (SAL). The treatment was carried out at 8 am (ZT1) and the behavioral studies were performed at ZT 0 (7 am, basal) and ZT 7 (2 pm, beginning of the AH). The Tightrope and Hanging wire tests were used to study neuromuscular coordination and muscle tension, respectively. Another groups of mice with the same treatment (n=8) were intracardially perfused and their brains were subjected to immunofluorescence by using an anti-GFAP antibody (glial fibrillary acidic protein) to identify reactive astrocytes and anti-NeuN (Neuronal nuclei marker) antibody to determine early signs of neurodegeneration. The confocal images were analyzed with the Image-J and GraphPad Prism software. At the beginning of AH it was detected a greater loss of neuromuscular coordination (> score in sec) (TAU+SAL: 5.1±1.5; TAU+OH: 14.1±3.0, p