Taurine deficiency in the developing cat: Persistence of the cerebellar external granule cell layer

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Abstract
Dietary taurine deprivation adversely affects feline pregnancy and is associated with the frequent occurrence of fetal resorption, abortion, stillbirth, and low birthweight of live kittens at term. Taurine-deprived, live-born kittens have a poor postnatal survival rate and grow less well than kittens from taurine-supplemented queens. The postnatal dietary taurine intake of such kittens is reduced if they are nursed by their biologic mothers; the concentration of taurine in milk of taurine-deprived mothers is less than 10% of that in milk from taurine-supplemented queens. Surviving kittens from taurine-deprived mothers exhibit a constellation of neurological abnormalities (abnormal hind leg development, a peculiar gait characterized by excessive abduction and paresis, and thoracic kyphosis readily visible by X-ray). These findings suggest the presence of a developmental cerebellar deficit. Histological examination of the pre- and postnatally taurine-deprived kitten's cerebellum reveals a persistence of the external granule cell layer, which was confirmed by electron-microscopic examination. Numerous mitotic figures are present in the cells in the external granule cell layer of the cerebellum of kittens born from and nursed by taurine-deprived queens, but not in those from taurine-supplemented mothers. These findings suggest a maturational delay.