title: Is there a correlation between taurine levels and xenobiotic-induced perturbations in protein synthesis?: a study with tetracycline in rats.
abstract: Changes in urinary levels of taurine have been reported in rats following treatment with various xenobiotics including those which alter protein synthesis and/or are hepatotoxic. This paper reports on the time course of the urinary elevation of taurine following treatment of rats with tetracycline (50, 150 and 200 mg.kg-1). Maximum taurine excretion occurred 8-12 h following dosing. Serum albumin and total protein were significantly lower after 24 h (200 mg.kg-1). The increase in urinary taurine was dose-related and reflected in the raised serum levels of taurine 24 h after dosing. Serum and urinary protein and [3H]-leucine incorporation into acid precipitable protein in liver and muscle were reduced by tetracycline (100, 150 and 200 mg.kg-1) 10 h after dosing. The reduction in protein synthesis was correlated with increased urinary and serum levels of taurine at 10 h. The use of taurine as a non-invasive marker of protein synthesis is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Department, School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Waterfield
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Asker
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Timbrell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004326:Drinking; D007930:Leucine / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry; D009929:Organ Size; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011507:Proteinuria; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D013654:Taurine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D015262:Xenobiotics; D013654:Taurine; D003513:Cycloheximide; D007930:Leucine