Calcium and taurine interaction in mammalian brain metabolism.

Abstract

Taurine is present in relatively high (mM) concentrations in mammalian tissues, including the brain. Despite extensive studies of its synthesis, release in response to nerve stimulation and possible neuronal or extraneuronal uptake there is still no consensus about its functions (9,8,12). It has variously been designated as a neurotransmitter, neuromodulator, a modulator of calcium fluxes, and also as an osmoregulator or membrane stabilizer and an antioxidant. These effects may, at least in some cases, be interlinked. Thus, for example, the “neuroprotective” effects of taurine may be related to the osmoregulatory, antioxidant and calcium ion modulating functions of taurine.KeywordsCerebrospinal FluidHeat StressRectal TemperatureTaurine ConcentrationCerebrospinal Fluid SampleThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.