title: Effects of taurine and verapamil on heart calcium in hamsters and rats.
abstract: Heart calcium was measured in hamsters and rats following 30 days of drinking (i) tap water, (ii) taurine solution (T) or (iii) a taurine uptake inhibitor (GES). The regimes were duplicated in animals receiving verapamil (V). Heart calcium was reduced in both species by T + V; a comparable effect was obtained with GES alone; T alone had no effect. In the hamster, the GES effect was reversed by GES + V; V alone had no effect. In rats, the separate and combined effects of GES and V on heart calcium were identical. Possible mechanisms and underlying species differences are discussed.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McBroom
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Welty
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013045:Species Specificity; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013654:Taurine; D014700:Verapamil; D002118:Calcium