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A Possible Role for Taurine in Osmoregulation Within the Brain
Author(s) -
Wade J. V.,
Olson J. P.,
Samson F. E.,
Nelson S. R.,
Pazdernik T. L.
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.tb01807.x
Subject(s) - taurine , osmoregulation , extracellular , microdialysis , osmotic concentration , extracellular fluid , amino acid , biochemistry , osmolyte , neurotransmitter , biology , medicine , chemistry , endocrinology , central nervous system , ecology , salinity
Intracranial microdialysis was used to measure changes in extracellular amino acids within the rat brain during local osmotic alteration of the extracellular micro‐environment or during systemic water intoxication. Increased cellular hydration produced by either of these methods was accompanied by a marked increase in extracellular taurine levels without affecting the other amino acids measured. With local osmotic alteration, this increase was osmolarity dependent and reversible. The specificity, sensitivity, and reversibility of the increase in extracellular taurine strongly suggest a functional role in osmoregulation in the brain under normal as well as pathological conditions.