Effects of taurine on oxidative stress parameters and chromium levels altered by acute hexavalent chromium exposure in mice kidney tissue

The kidney has been regarded as a critical organ of toxicity induced by acute exposure to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] compounds. Reactive intermediates and free radicals generated during reduction process might be responsible for Cr(VI) toxicity. In this study, the effects of pretreatment or posttreatment of taurine on Cr(VI)-induced oxidative stress and chromium accumulation in kidney tissue of Swiss albino mice were investigated. Single intraperitoneal (ip) potassium dichromate treatment (20 mgCr/kg), as Cr(VI) compound, significantly elevated the level of lipid peroxidation as compared with the control group (p < 0.05). This was accompanied by significant decreases in nonprotein sulfhydryls (NPSH) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities as well as a significant chromium accumulation (p < 0.05). Taurine administration (1 g/kg, ip) before or after Cr(VI) exposure resulted in reduction of lipid peroxidation levels and improvement in SOD enzyme activity (p < 0.05). On the other hand, administration of the antioxidant before Cr(VI) exposure restored the NPSH level and CAT enzyme activity and also reduced tissue chromium levels (p < 0.05), whereas posttreatment had only slight effects on these parameters. In view of the results, taurine seems to exert some beneficial effects against Cr(VI)-induced oxidative stress and chromium accumulation in mice kidney tissue.