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Effects of taurine on rat aorta in vitro
Author(s) -
Ristori MT,
Verdetti J.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
fundamental and clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1472-8206
pISSN - 0767-3981
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-8206.1991.tb00716.x
Subject(s) - taurine , medicine , vasodilation , endocrinology , acetylcholine , chemistry , calcium , endothelium , aorta , extracellular , vasoconstriction , biochemistry , amino acid
Summary— The effects of taurine on vascular tone of isolated thoracic aortic rings were investigated. We have observed that: 1) taurine is able to induce reduction of the basal contractile tone; 2) taurine exerts a relaxing action in artery segments preconstricted with high potassium medium noradrenaline; 3) the effect of taurine is either dependent on endothelium, nor mediated by adrenoceptors or muscarinic cholinoceptors; 4) in vessels with basal tone or in those preconstricted with noradrenaline, the presence of endothelium reduces the taurine‐induced relaxation; 5) the actions of taurine are independent of extracellular calcium; 6) taurine increases the vasodilatation induced by a perfusion with a calcium‐free medium. The physiological role of taurine in the maintenance of vascular tone in normal and pathological situations is discussed.