A role for taurine in the maintenance of homeostasis in the central nervous system during hyperexcitation?
Employing the brain dialysis technique, we demonstrate that the aspartate congener N-methyl-D,L-aspartic acid (NMA) stimulates the release of endogenous taurine in vivo in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Furthermore, exogenous taurine (1-10 mM) inhibits the NMA-induced Ca2+ influx into intracellular compartments. This suggests that the extracellular taurine concentration may control Ca2+ movement and thereby provide a homeostatic mechanism in situations of excessive excitation.
D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D011817:Rabbits; D013654:Taurine / Q000378:metabolism*
D013654:Taurine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D002118:Calcium