Taurine suppresses pressor response through the inhibition of sympathetic nerve activity and the improvement in baro-reflex sensitivity of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

To investigate the effect of taurine on the sympathetic nervous system, I observed pressor responses of perfused mesenteric arteries by electrical stimulation and baro-reflex sensitivity of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR/Izm) and control Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY/Izm) treated with taurine. Taurine added to the perfusate suppressed norepinephrine (NE) overflow and the pressor response mediated by electrical stimulation of isolated perfused mesenteric arteries. Taurine showed a greater suppressive effect on NE overflow and the pressor response mediated by electrical stimulation in SHR/Izm rats than in WKY/Izm rats. Increment of renal sympathetic nerve activity induced by jet-air stress was suppressed in SHR/Izm rats treated with 3% taurine. The arterial baro-reflex sensitivity was more sensitive in SHR/Izm rats treated with taurine than in those exposed to no taurine. These data suggest that taurine lowers blood pressure directly via the suppression of NE release from the peripheral sympathetic nerve and the improvement of impaired baro-reflex sensitivity.