The effects of taurine on various stages of the kindling process: A summary of results

Abstract

Five experiments were conducted in which taurine was administered to rats at various stages in the kindling process. Amygdaloid stimulation was at 100-microA intensity for 30 sec. Experiments 1, 2, and 3 evaluated the effects of taurine on rats at the clonic convulsion stage with various dosages (50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg weight). Experiments 4 and 5 were concerned with rats at the exploration and behavioral automatism stages (dosages: 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg weight). Rats at the initial stage (normal exploration) which received taurine intraperitoneally reached the convulsion stage later than did rats injected with physiological saline. Taurine administration had no effect when rats were at the behavioral automatism or clonic convulsion stage. A second set of four experiments were conducted which used 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg dosages and the duration of stimulation was just above latency threshold. The results were similar to the first set; however, the retardation with rats at Stage 1 was not as pronounced.