Taurine in the osmoregulation of the Brattleboro rat

The function of taurine in mammalian osmoregulation was studied in the Brattleboro rat with hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus (DI). DI rats are chronically dehydrated because of their inability to synthesize vasopressin. One day of water deprivation did not affect the water balance in rats...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inLife sciences (1973) Vol. 42; no. 21; p. 2137
Main Authors Nieminen, M L, Tuomisto, L, Solatunturi, E, Eriksson, L, Paasonen, M K
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Netherlands 1988
Subjects
Animals
Blood Platelets - analysis
Diabetes Insipidus - physiopathology
Electrolytes - blood
Osmolar Concentration
Rats
Rats, Brattleboro
Rats, Inbred Strains
Taurine - blood
Taurine - physiology
Urine
Water-Electrolyte Balance
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Summary:The function of taurine in mammalian osmoregulation was studied in the Brattleboro rat with hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus (DI). DI rats are chronically dehydrated because of their inability to synthesize vasopressin. One day of water deprivation did not affect the water balance in rats with normal vasopressin synthesis, whereas DI rats were markedly dehydrated and lost considerably body weight. Taurine content and 3H-taurine accumulation by platelets were significantly higher in DI rats, with a further increase after one day of water deprivation. In DI rats, water deprivation also evoked a clear taurine increase in skeletal muscle and in the brain. These findings indicate that taurine has an osmoregulatory function in mammals.
ISSN:0024-3205
DOI:10.1016/0024-3205(88)90128-2