[Effects of taurine and zinc on activity of NOS and expression of nNOS in cerebral cortex of acute hypoxic mice].

Objective: To explore the effect of taurine and zinc on vigor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and the expression level of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the cerebral cortex of acute hypoxic mice and the their neuroprotective effects.

Methods: Model of acute hypoxic mice was duplicated, NADPH-d histochemistry and nNOS immunohistochemistry were used to investigate the changes of NOS in different groups.

Results: Compared with the NS group, the anoxia endurance of the zinc sulfate group was increased 33.06%, while that of the taurine and zinc sulfate group was increased 26.83% than that of the zinc sulfate group (P < 0.05). Compared with the NS group, the number of NADPH-d positive neurons and nNOS positive neurons in cerebral cortex of zinc sulfate group were significantly decreased, while those of the taurine and zinc sulfate group were significantly decreased than the zinc sulfate group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Both taurine and zinc could prolong the anoxia endurance, perhaps they might play an important role in decreasing the level of nitric oxide synthase to protect the brain against hypoxic damage.