Table 3. Histopathology by light microscopy, myocyte cross-sectional area, collagen value fraction and determination of metalloproteinases -2 and -9 activation.

	Group Cn = 7	Group T(-)n = 7	P
CSA (µm2)	238.3±24.2	196.3±29.7*	0.013
CVF (%)	1.37±0.8	1.34±1.3	0.955
MMP2 A/I	0.51±0.1	0.51±0.1	0.870
MMP9 A/I	0.65±0.7	0.60±0.4	0.898

Group C: control animals, Group T (-): taurine-deficient animals; CSA: myocyte cross sectional area; CVF: collagen value fraction; MPP2 A/I: ratio of the active and inactive forms of metalloproteinase 2; MPP9 A/I: ratio of the active and inactive forms of metalloproteinase 9. Data are expressed as means ± standard deviations or medians (quartile 1 - quartile 3). Bold values indicate statistical significance (P≤0.05).