Taurine Failed to Protect against the Embryotoxic Effects of Isotretinoin in the Rat

Taurine Failed to Protect against the Embryotoxic Effects ofIsotretinoin in the Rat AGNISH, N. D., RUSIN, G., AND DINARDO,B. (1990). Fundam. Appl. To.xicol. 15, 249–257. Experimentalevidence exists to indicate that retinoids may act as detergentsto disrupt biological membranes. Taurine, an amino sulfonicacid, has been shown to possess membrane-stabilizing and cytoprotectiveproperties. This study was undertaken to test whether taurinecoadministered with isotretinoin might be able to protect againstthe teratogenic effects of the retinoid. Our study failed tofind any support for this speculation. Whether challenged againsta 75 (mildly teratogenic) or 150 (very teratogenic) mg/kg/daydose of isotretinoin, taurine for the most part worsened theretinoid embryotoxicity. While in a few combinations taurinedecreased the re-sorption or malformation rate associated withisotretinoin, the decrease was, at best, marginal. In no casewas taurine able to decrease these rates to those noted in thecontrols.