Is there a correlation between taurine levels and xenobioticinduced perturbations in protein synthesis?: A study with tetracycline in rats

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Changes in urinary levels of taurine have been reported in rats following treatment with various xenobiotics including those which alter protein synthesis and/or are hepatotoxic. This paper reports on the time course of the urinary elevation of taurine following treatment of rats with tetracycline (50, 150 and 200mg.kg-1). Maximum taurine excretion occurred 8–12h following dosing. Serum albumin and total protein were significantly lower after 24h (200mg.kg-1). The increase in urinary taurine was dose-related and reflected in the raised serum levels of taurine 24h after dosing. Serum and urinary protein and [3H]-leucine incorporation into acid precipitable protein in liver and muscle were reduced by tetracycline (100, 150 and 200mg.kg-1) 10h after dosing. The reduction in protein synthesis was correlated with increased urinary and serum levels of taurine at 10h. The use of taurine as a non-invasive marker of protein synthesis is discussed.