Summary1. X-irradiation does not alter concentration of taurine in muscle, spleen, thymus or liver tissue of rats exposed to x-radiation 24 hrs. prior to study. However, during this period, there is a marked increase in urinary excretion of taurine. Thus preformed tissue taurine does not appear to be the source of excess taurine excreted following irradiation. 2. Rats maintained on a diet designed to cause a depletion of sulfhydryl compounds (cholic acid feeding) have a significantly reduced urinary taurine response to whole-body irradiation. 3. When rats maintained on sulfhydryl-depleting diet were given subsequently an l-cystine supplemented diet, the lowered urinary taurine response to irradiation was not restored to normal.
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