Endogenous synthesis of taurine and GABA in rat ocular tissues

The endogenous production of taurine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in rat ocular tissues was investigated. The activities of taurine-producing enzyme, cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase (CSAD), and GABA-synthesizing enzyme, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), were observed in the retina, lens,...

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Published inActa chemica Scandinavica. Series B. Organic chemistry and biochemistry Vol. 42; no. 1; p. 39
Main Author Heinämäki, A A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Denmark 01.01.1988
Subjects
Amino Acids - analysis
Animals
Eye - enzymology
Eye - metabolism
Eye Proteins - analysis
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - biosynthesis
In Vitro Techniques
Rats
Rats, Inbred F344
Taurine - biosynthesis
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Summary:The endogenous production of taurine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in rat ocular tissues was investigated. The activities of taurine-producing enzyme, cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase (CSAD), and GABA-synthesizing enzyme, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), were observed in the retina, lens, iris-ciliary body and cornea. The highest specific activity of CSAD was in the cornea and that of GAD in the retina. The discrepancy between CSAD activity and taurine content within the ocular tissues indicates that intra- or extraocular transport processes may regulate the concentration of taurine in the rat eye. The GAD activity and the content of GABA were distributed in parallel within the rat ocular tissues. The quantitative results suggest that the GAD/GABA system has functional significance only in the retina of the rat eye.
ISSN:0302-4369
DOI:10.3891/acta.chem.scand.42b-0039