Platelet Taurine Uptake in Spinocerebellar Degeneration

Abstract
SUMMARY: The uptake of 14C-laurine was studied in the platelets of 20 ataxic patients and 20 age-matched normal control subjects. No significant differences were found in uptake or kinetics of taurine between the two groups of subjects. If a transport defect in taurine exists in Friedreich's ataxia, it is not present in all tissues. Preliminary indication was obtained in favor of heterogenity of the uptake pattern between ataxic individuals.