Effects of the taurine transport antagonist, guanidinoethane sulfonate, and β‐alanine on the morphology of rat retina

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Abstract
Newborn rats treated for the first weeks of life with guanidinoethane sulfonate (GES), a blocker of taurine transport producing taurine depletion, showed a severe disruption of photoreceptor structure. Photoreceptor damage consisted of a marked reduction of the size of the photoreceptor layer, deformation of the outer segments, and a profound disorganization of the disc membranes. The GES‐induced degeneration pattern was very similar to that observed in cats fed a taurine‐deficient diet. Injection of β‐alanine, another antagonist of taurine transport, also produced a disruption of photoreceptor structure. These results confirm the requirement of taurine for maintaining photoreceptor structure in different species.