Abstract
Methodology and insight go together like lock and key, each useless without the other. The first three chapters in this section present novel methodology, each of which promises to increase our ability to probe the biological functions of taurine. It is a well known story how the high concentration of acetylcholine receptors in the electroplax of Torpedo californica allowed their ready isolation, which in turn yielded tremendous progress in the understanding of acetylcholine receptors in mammals, where such receptors are present only in low concentrations. The discovery of taurine receptors on the sensilla of the spiny lobster has the promise of being of equal value in taurine research. Gleeson et al. show how this enriched source of taurine receptors may be readily obtained in a few seconds without decreasing the market value of the lobster. The taurine receptor on the sensilla is exposed to the environment, where it serves as a chemoceptor for detecting taurine in sea water. This system works together with other chemoceptors on the sensilla as a means for finding food sources. The sensitivity of the receptor is extreme, taurine concentrations as low as 10−12 M producing a response. Gleeson et al. have done exquisitely nice work recording electrical responses triggered by the receptor in single neurons. An other observation illustrating the potential significance of this receptor for mammalian studies is that the structure activity requirements are the same as those found for mammalian binding sites for taurine. The authors anticipate that this model will yield valuable insight in the understanding of taurine in recognition and response systems. The capability is there. Their hope, however, will only be realized if the appropriate laboratories take the appropriate steps to involve themselves in this problem.
Keywords
These 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.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Aldegunde, M., Miquez, T., Martin, I., and Fernandez Otero, M.P., 1983. Changes in brain monoamine metabolism associated with hypothermia induced by intraperitoneally administered taurine in the rat, IRCS Med. Sci. 11:258–259.
Hamberger, A., Berthold, C.H., Jacobson, I., Karlsson, B., Lehmann, A., Nystrom, B., and Sandberg, M., 1985, In vivo brain dialysis of extracellular nontransmitter and putative transmitter amino acids, in; “In Vivo Perfusion and Release of Neuroactive Substances”, Bayon, A., and Drucker-Colin, R. eds., Academic Press, New York, pp. 119–139.
Huxtable, R., and Chubb, J., 1977, Adrenergic stimulation of taurine transport by the heart, Science 198:409–411.
Huxtable, R. J., Chubb, J., and Azari, J., 1980, Physiological and experimental regulation of taurine content in the heart, Fed. Proc. 39:2685–2690.
Huxtable, R.J., Laird, H., Bonhaus, D., and Thies, A.C., 1982, Correlations between amino acid concentrations in brains of seizure-susceptible and seizure-resistant rats, Neurochem. Int. 4:73–78.
Huxtable, R.J., Laird, H.E., and Lippincott, S.E., 1979. The transport of taurine in the heart and the rapid depletion of tissue taurine content by guanidinoethyl sulfonate, J. Pharmacol. Exptl. Therap. 211:465–471.
Huxtable, R.J., and Sebring, L.A., 1986, Towards a unifying theory for the action of taurine, TIPS 7:481–485.
Iwata, H., and Baba, A., 1983. Neurochemical basis of cysteine sulfinic acid in the central nervous system, in: “Sulfur Amino Acids: Biochemical and Clinical Aspects”, Kuriyama, K., Huxtable, R.J., and Iwata, H. eds., Alan R. Liss, Inc., New York, pp. 141–150.
Lerma, J., Herranz, A.S., Herreras, O., Abraira, V., and Del Rio, M., 1986, In vivo determination of extracellular concentration of amino acids in the rat hippocampus, A method based on brain” dialysis and computerized analysis, Brain Research 384:145–155.
Lombardini, J.B., 1978, High-affinity transport of taurine in the mammalian central nervous system, in: “Taurine and Neurological Disorders”, Barbeau, A., and Huxtable, R.J., eds., Raven Press, New York pp. 119–136.
Rassln, D.K., 1982, Taurine, cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase and glutamic acid in brain, in: “Taurine in Nutrition and Neurology”, Huxtable, R.J., and Pasantes-Morales, H., eds., Plenum Press, New York, pp. 257–268.
Van Gelder, N.M., 1978, Taurine, the compartmentalized metabolism of glutamic acid, and the epilepsies, Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 56:362–374.
Vezzani, A., Ungerstedt, TJ., French, E.D., and Schwarcz, R., 1985, In vivo brain dialysis of amino acids and simultaneous EEG measurements following intrahippocampal quinolinic acid injection: evidence for a dissociation between neurochemical changes and seizures, J. Neurochem. 45:335–344.
Wheler, G.H.T., and Klein, B.C., 1979, Cyclic AMP-induced release of C taurine from pinealocytes, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 90:20–27.
Wheler, O.H.T., Weller, J.L., and Klein, D.C., 1979, Taurine: stimulation of pineal N-acetyltransferase activity and melatonin production via a beta-adrenergic mechanism, Brain Res. 166:65–74.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1987 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Huxtable, R.J., Franconi, F. (1987). Introduction: Neurochemistry. In: Huxtable, R.J., Franconi, F., Giotti, A. (eds) The Biology of Taurine. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 217. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0405-8_26
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0405-8_26
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0407-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0405-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive