To assess the protective effect of exogenous taurine on the central nervous system, spinal cord ischemia was induced for 60 minutes in 16 rabbits randomized into 3 groups. Group 1 (n = 5) had hypothermia targeted to 30.5°C and 10 mmol·kg−1 taurine, group 2 (n = 5) had hypothermia targeted to 29.5°C, and group 3 (n = 6) had hypothermia targeted to 30°C. Group 1 was cooled to 30.6 ± 0.07°C and group 2 was cooled to 29.4 ± 0.07°C; both had total functional recovery (rabbits able to keep normal posture, to walk, and to hop) within 6 hours of reperfusion. None of the group 3 animals that were cooled to 29.9 ± 0.05°C recovered function. It was concluded that taurine combined with hypothermia protected the spinal cord from 60 minutes of ischemia at a temperature that could not otherwise ensure protection. The protective effect contributed by taurine was equivalent to 1.2°C.
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