Effect of Taurine on Calcium Accumulation in Resting and Depolarised Insect Synaptosomes

Abstract
The effect of taurine (2-aminoethanesulphonic acid) on 45Ca2+ accumulation in resting and depolarised synaptosomes obtained from the locust Schistocerca americana gregaria was studied. Taurine reduced 45Ca2+accumulation in resting synaptosomes, and this effect was more pronounced when synpatosomes were depolarised with either high [K+] or veratridine. Veratridine-induced 45Ca2+ accumulation was not affected by either .gamma.-aminobutyric acid or leucine, but was reduced by both verapamil and tetrodotoxin.