Abstract: ObjectiveTo observe the effect of dietary supplementation with taurine on photoreceptorapoptosis and further investigate changes of c-fos expression of rat retina after photochemical damage.MethodSeventy rats were randomly divided into control group(Control)and 4% taurine supplementation group(Taurine).The subjects were exposed to(3000±200)lx transmitted by six cold white lights for 0,1,3,6,9,12,24 h.The apoptotic photoreceptor cells were detected using TUNEL method;Total RNA and protein of retina were extracted;relative-cfos mRNA levels were determined using RT-PCR and c-fos protein levels were detected by western-blot analysis.ResultsWith the light exposure time prolonged,apoptosis index(AI)of photo receptor cells was elevated,among which the AI of 12h were(12.3±4.7)% and(32.4±6.2)% in Taurine and control group(P<0.05).The c-fos mRNA of rat retina was transiently induced after one-hour light exposure and it was lowerin taurine group(P<0.05);c-fos protein level increased after three hourexposure and it was lower in taurine group(P<0.05).ConclusionTaurine can partly reduce the transcription and translation of c-fos,which would further inhibit the apoptosis signal transduction and protect the rat retina from photochemical damage.