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Effect of Taurine on Neurotransmitter Release from Insect Synaptosomes
Author(s) -
Whitton Peter S.,
Nicholson Russell A.,
Strang Robin H. C.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1988.tb01097.x
Subject(s) - taurine , neurotransmitter , insect , chemistry , synaptosome , biochemistry , biology , amino acid , in vitro , botany , receptor
The effect of taurine on the release of [ 3 H]acetylcholine ([ 3 H]ACh) and [ 3 H]‐γ‐aminobutyric acid ([ 3 H]GABA) from preloaded locust synaptosomes has been studied. Veratridine (100 μ M ) and K + (100 m M ) both evoked [ 3 H]ACh release and this was reduced in a concentration‐dependent manner by taurine (5, 10, and 20 m M ). In contrast to this, veratridine induced no observable release of [ 3 H]GABA, and the response to K + was slight. In the presence of taurine, however, a concentration‐dependent enhancement of [ 3 H]GABA release was observed. Since nipecotic acid (1 m M ), an inhibitor of neuronal GABA uptake, also revealed [ 3 H]GABA release induced by veratridine, it is suggested that both this effect and that of taurine are due to prevention of GABA reuptake. These results suggest that taurine may act as a neuromodulator in insects.