Abstract: AIM: To investigate the hypotensive effect and its mechanism of taurine in the fructose-induced insulin resistance and hypertension rats.METHODS: The rats were divided into three groups. The rats in the control group were fed with standard rat chow and had free access to distilled water, while the rats in the fructose group had free access to a high-fructose diet, and the rats in the taurine group had free access to a diet containing high-fructose and received a 2% taurine solution as drinking water. Systolic blood pressure, insulin, triglycerides and glucose were measured. The variations of heart function parameters to noradrenaline with arterial cannulation in anaesthetic rats were observed and the reactivity of isolated thoracic aortic rings to noradrenaline, acetylcholine and acidified to NaNO were explored.RESULTS:The systolic blood pressure, serum level of insulin, triglycerides and glucose in fructose group were apparently higher than those in control and taurine groups. The vagectomy-induced variations of blood pressure and heart rate in control and taurine groups were smaller than those in fructose group rats. The sensitivity to acetylcholine in fructose group was weaker than that in control and taurine groups.CONCLUSION: Taurine ameliorates the metabolic disorder induced by fructose, and decreases the blood pressure by protecting endothelium and improving baroreflex sensitivity.

Key words: Taurine, Fructose, Insulin resistance, Blood pressure