Taurine-Induced Long-Lasting Enhancement of Synaptic Transmission in Mice: Role of Transporters

Taurine, a major osmolyte in the brain evokes a long-lasting enhancement (LLE TAU ) of synaptic transmission in hippocampal and cortico-striatal slices. Hippocampal LLE TAU was abolished by the GABA uptake blocker nipecotic acid (NPA) but not by the taurine-uptake inhibitor guanidinoethyl sulphonate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of physiology 2003-08, Vol.550 (3), p.911-919
Main Authors: Sergeeva, O. A., Chepkova, A. N., Doreulee, N., Eriksson, K. S., Poelchen, W., Mönnighoff, I., Heller‐Stilb, B., Warskulat, U., Häussinger, D., Haas, H. L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Animals
Brain Chemistry - drug effects
Carrier Proteins - genetics
Carrier Proteins - physiology
Electrophysiology
Female
Genotype
Hippocampus - drug effects
Hippocampus - metabolism
Immunohistochemistry
Male
Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics
Membrane Glycoproteins - physiology
Membrane Transport Proteins
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Knockout
Neostriatum - drug effects
Neostriatum - metabolism
Neuronal Plasticity - physiology
Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors - pharmacology
Original
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Stimulation, Chemical
Synaptic Transmission - drug effects
Taurine - metabolism
Taurine - pharmacology
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Summary:Taurine, a major osmolyte in the brain evokes a long-lasting enhancement (LLE TAU ) of synaptic transmission in hippocampal and cortico-striatal slices. Hippocampal LLE TAU was abolished by the GABA uptake blocker nipecotic acid (NPA) but not by the taurine-uptake inhibitor guanidinoethyl sulphonate (GES). Striatal LLE TAU was sensitive to GES but not to NPA. Semiquantitative PCR analysis and immunohistochemistry revealed that taurine transporter expression is significantly higher in the striatum than in the hippocampus. Taurine transporter-deficient mice displayed very low taurine levels in both structures and a low ability to develop LLE TAU in the striatum, but not in the hippocampus. The different mechanisms of taurine-induced synaptic plasticity may reflect the different vulnerabilities of these brain regions under pathological conditions that are accompanied by osmotic changes such as hepatic encephalopathy.
ISSN:0022-3751
1469-7793
DOI:10.1113/jphysiol.2003.045864