The taurine uptake inhibitor guanidinoethyl sulphonate is an agonist at gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) receptors in cultured murine cerebellar granule cells

Guanidino acid hydrolysis by the human enzyme annotated as agmatinase

Guanidino acids such as taurocyamine, guanidinobutyrate, guanidinopropionate, and guanidinoacetate have been detected in humans. However, except for guanidionacetate, which is a precursor of creatine, their metabolism and potential functions remain poorly understood. Agmatine has received considerable attention as a potential neurotransmitter and the human enzyme so far annotated as agmatinase (AGMAT) has been proposed as an important modulator of agmatine levels. However, conclusive evidence for the assigned enzymatic activity is lacking. Here we show that AGMAT hydrolyzed a range of linear guanidino acids but was virtually inactive with agmatine. Structural modelling and direct biochemical assays indicated that two naturally occurring variants differ in their substrate preferences. A negatively charged group in the substrate at the end opposing the guanidine moiety was essential for efficient catalysis, explaining why agmatine was not hydrolyzed. We suggest to rename AGMAT as guanidino acid hydrolase (GDAH). Additionally, we demonstrate that the GDAH substrates taurocyamine, guanidinobutyrate and guanidinopropionate were produced by human glycine amidinotransferase (GATM). The presented findings show for the first time an enzymatic activity for GDAH/AGMAT. Since agmatine has frequently been proposed as an endogenous neurotransmitter, the current findings clarify important aspects of the metabolism of agmatine and guanidino acid derivatives in humans.

Hyperreflexia and enhanced ripple oscillations in the taurine-deficient mice

In this study, we examined neuronal excitability and skeletal muscle physiology and histology in homozygous knockout mice lacking cysteine sulfonic acid decarboxylase (CSAD-KO). Neuronal excitability was measured by intracerebral recording from the prefrontal cortex. Skeletal muscle response was measured through stretch reflex in the ankle muscles. Specifically, we measured the muscle tension, amplitude of electromyogram and velocity of muscle response. Stretch reflex responses were evoked using a specialized stretching device designed for mice. The triceps surae muscle was stretched at various speeds ranging from 18 to 18,000° s^-1. A transducer recorded the muscle resistance at each velocity and the corresponding EMG. We also measured the same parameter in anesthetized mice. We found that at each velocity, the CSAD-KO mice generated more tension and exhibited higher EMG responses. To evaluate if the enhanced response was due to neuronal excitability or changes in the passive properties of muscles, we anesthetize mice to eliminate the central component of the reflex. Under these conditions, CSAD-KO mice still exhibited an enhanced stretch reflex response, indicating ultrastructural alterations in muscle histology. Consistent with this, we found that sarcomeres from CSAD-KO muscles were shorter and thinner when compared to control sarcomeres. Neuronal excitability was further investigated using intracerebral recordings of brain waves from the prefrontal cortex. We found that extracellular field potentials in CSAD-KO mice were characterized by reduced amplitude of low-frequency brain waves (delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma) and increased in the high low-frequency brain waves (slow and fast ripples). Increased slow and fast ripple rates serve as a biomarker of epileptogenic brain. We have previously shown that taurine interacts with GABA_A receptors and induces biochemical changes in the GABAergic system. We suggest that taurine deficiency leads to alterations in the GABAergic system that contribute to the enhanced stretch reflex in CSAD-KO mice through biochemical mechanisms that involve alterations not only at the spinal level but also at the cortical level.

Taurine Regulation of Peripheral Hemodynamics

Taurine plays an important role in the modulation of cardiovascular function by acting not only within the brain but also within peripheral tissues. We found that IV injection of taurine to male rats caused hypotension and tachycardia. A single injection of taurine significantly lowered the systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure blood pressure in freely moving long Evans control rats. Previousely, we found that the endothelial cells express high levels of taurine transporters and GABA_A receptors and showed that taurine activates GABA_A receptors. Thus we suggest that the functional implication of GABA_A receptors activation is the relaxation of the arterial muscularis, vasodilation and a decrease in blood pressure. Interestingly however, the effects of acute taurine injection were very different that chronic supplementation of taurine. When rats were supplemented taurine (0.05%, 4 weeks) in their drinking water, taurine has significant hypertensive properties. The increase in blood pressure was observed however only in females, males supplemented with taurine did not show an increase in systolic, diastolic or mean arterial pressure. In both genders however, taurine supplementation caused a significant tachycardia. Thus, we suggest that acute administration of taurine may be beneficial to lowering blood pressure. However, our data indicate that supplementation of taurine to females caused a significant increase in blood pressure. It remains to be seen the effect of taurine supplementation on hypertensive rats.

Taurine activates glycine and GABAA receptor currents in anoxia-tolerant painted turtle pyramidal neurons

Unlike anoxia-intolerant mammals, painted turtles can survive extended periods without oxygen. This is partly accomplished by an anoxia-mediated increase in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release, which activates GABA receptors and mediates spike arrest in turtle neurons via shunting inhibition. Extracellular taurine levels also increase during anoxia; why this occurs is unknown but it is speculated that glycine and/or GABA_A/B receptors are involved. Given the general importance of inhibitory neurotransmission in the anoxia-tolerant painted turtle brain, we investigated the function of taurine as an inhibitory neuromodulator in turtle pyramidal neurons. Using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiological methods to record from neurons within a cortical brain sheet, we found that taurine depolarized membrane potential by ∼8 mV, increased whole-cell conductance ∼2-fold, and induced an inward current that possessed characteristics similar to GABA- and glycine-evoked currents. These effects were mitigated following glycine receptor antagonism with strychnine and GABA_A receptor antagonism with gabazine, bicuculine or picrotoxin, but were unchanged following GABA_B or glutamatergic receptor inhibition. These data indicate that a high concentration of taurine in vitro mediates its effects through both glycine and GABA_A receptors, and suggests that taurine, in addition to GABA, inhibits neuronal activity during anoxia in the turtle cortex.

Honeybee Kenyon cells are regulated by a tonic GABA receptor conductance

The higher cognitive functions of insects are dependent on their mushroom bodies (MBs), which are particularly large in social insects such as honeybees. MB Kenyon cells (KCs) receive multisensory input and are involved in associative learning and memory. In addition to receiving sensory input via excitatory nicotinic synapses, KCs receive inhibitory GABAergic input from MB feedback neurons. Cultured honeybee KCs exhibit ionotropic GABA receptor currents, but the properties of GABA-mediated inhibition in intact MBs are currently unknown. Here, using whole cell recordings from KCs in acutely isolated honeybee brain, we show that KCs exhibit a tonic current that is inhibited by picrotoxin but not by bicuculline. Bath application of GABA (5 μM) and taurine (1 mM) activate a tonic current in KCs, but l-glutamate (0.1-0.5 mM) has no effect. The tonic current is strongly potentiated by the allosteric GABAA receptor modulator pentobarbital and is reduced by inhibition of Ca(2+) channels with Cd(2+) or nifedipine. Noise analysis of the GABA-evoked current gives a single-channel conductance value for the underlying receptors of 27 ± 3 pS, similar to that of resistant to dieldrin (RDL) receptors. The amount of injected current required to evoke action potential firing in KCs is significantly lower in the presence of picrotoxin. KCs recorded in an intact honeybee head preparation similarly exhibit a tonic GABA receptor conductance that reduces neuronal excitability, a property that is likely to contribute to the sparse coding of sensory information in insect MBs.

Roles of taurine-mediated tonic GABAA receptor activation in the radial migration of neurons in the fetal mouse cerebral cortex

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) depolarizes embryonic cerebrocortical neurons and continuous activation of the GABA_A receptor (GABA_AR) contributes to their tonic depolarization. Although multiple reports have demonstrated a role of GABA_AR activation in neocortical development, including in migration, most of these studies have used pharmacological blockers. Herein, we performed in utero electroporation in GABA synthesis-lacking homozygous GAD67-GFP knock-in mice (GAD67^GFP/GFP) to label neurons born in the ventricular zone. Three days after electroporation, there were no differences in the distribution of labeled cells between the genotypes. The dose–response properties of labeled cells to GABA were equivalent among genotypes. However, continuous blockade of GABA_AR with the GABA_AR antagonist SR95531 accelerated radial migration. This effect of GABA_AR blockade in GAD67^GFP/GFP mice suggested a role for alternative endogenous GABA_AR agonists. Thus, we tested the role of taurine, which is derived from maternal blood but is abundant in the fetal brain. The taurine-evoked currents in labeled cells were mediated by GABA_AR. Taurine uptake was blocked by a taurine transporter inhibitor, 2-(guanidino)ethanesulfonic acid (GES), and taurine release was blocked by a volume-sensitive anion channel blocker, 4-(2-butyl-6,7-dichlor-2-cyclopentylindan-1-on-5-yl) oxobutyric acid, as examined through high-performance liquid chromatography. GES increased the extracellular taurine concentration and induced an inward shift of the holding current, which was reversed by SR95531. In a taurine-deficient mouse model, the GABA_AR-mediated tonic currents were greatly reduced, and radial migration was accelerated. As the tonic currents were equivalent among the genotypes of GAD67-GFP knock-in mice, taurine, rather than GABA, might play a major role as an endogenous agonist of embryonic tonic GABA_AR conductance, regulating the radial migration of neurons in the developing neocortex.

Activation of glycine receptors modulates spontaneous epileptiform activity in the immature rat hippocampus

While the expression of glycine receptors in the immature hippocampus has been shown, no information about the role of glycine receptors in controlling the excitability in the immature CNS is available. Therefore, we examined the effect of glycinergic agonists and antagonists in the CA3 region of an intact corticohippocampal preparation of the immature (postnatal days 4-7) rat using field potential recordings. Bath application of 100 μM taurine or 10 μM glycine enhanced the occurrence of recurrent epileptiform activity induced by 20 μM 4-aminopyridine in low Mg(2+) solution. This proconvulsive effect was prevented by 3 μM strychnine or after incubation with the loop diuretic bumetanide (10 μM), suggesting that it required glycine receptors and an active NKCC1-dependent Cl(-) accumulation. Application of higher doses of taurine (≥ 1 mM) or glycine (100 μM) attenuated recurrent epileptiform discharges. The anticonvulsive effect of taurine was also observed in the presence of the GABAA receptor antagonist gabazine and was attenuated by strychnine, suggesting that it was partially mediated by glycine receptors. Bath application of the glycinergic antagonist strychnine (0.3 μM) induced epileptiform discharges. We conclude from these results that in the immature hippocampus, activation of glycine receptors can mediate both pro- and anticonvulsive effects, but that a persistent activation of glycine receptors is required to suppress epileptiform activity. In summary, our study elucidated the important role of glycine receptors in the control of neuronal excitability in the immature hippocampus.

Neuroprotective role of taurine during aging

Aging of the brain is characterized by several neurochemical modifications involving structural proteins, neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and related receptors. Alterations of neurochemical indices of synaptic function are indicators of age-related impairment of central functions, such as locomotion, memory and sensory performances. Several studies demonstrate that ionotropic GABA receptors, glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), and somatostatinergic subpopulations of GABAergic neurons are markedly decreased in experimental animal brains during aging. Additionally, levels of several neuropeptides co-expressed with GAD decrease during aging. Thus, the age-related decline in cognitive functions could be attributable, at least in part, to decrements in GABA inhibitory neurotransmission. In this study, we showed that chronic supplementation of taurine to aged mice significantly ameliorated the age-dependent decline in spatial memory acquisition and retention. We also demonstrated that concomitant with the amelioration in cognitive function, taurine caused significant alterations in the GABAergic and somatostatinergic system. These changes included (1) increased levels of the neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate, (2) increased expression of both isoforms of GAD (65 and 67) and the neuropeptide somatostatin, (3) decreased hippocampal expression of the β3 subunits of the GABAA receptor, (4) increased expression in the number of somatostatin-positive neurons, (5) increased amplitude and duration of population spikes recorded from CA1 in response to Schaefer collateral stimulation and (6) enhanced paired pulse facilitation in the hippocampus. These specific alterations of the inhibitory system caused by taurine treatment oppose those naturally occurring in the aging brain, suggesting a protective role of taurine in this process. An increased understanding of age-related neurochemical changes in the GABAergic system will be important in elucidating the underpinnings of the functional changes of aging. Taurine supplementation might help forestall the age-related decline in cognitive functions through interaction with the GABAergic system.

GABA(A) receptor and glycine receptor activation by paracrine/autocrine release of endogenous agonists: more than a simple communication pathway

It is a common and widely accepted assumption that glycine and GABA are the main inhibitory transmitters in the central nervous system (CNS). But, in the past 20 years, several studies have clearly demonstrated that these amino acids can also be excitatory in the immature central nervous system. In addition, it is now established that both GABA receptors (GABARs) and glycine receptors (GlyRs) can be located extrasynaptically and can be activated by paracrine release of endogenous agonists, such as GABA, glycine, and taurine. Recently, non-synaptic release of GABA, glycine, and taurine gained further attention with increasing evidence suggesting a developmental role of these neurotransmitters in neuronal network formation before and during synaptogenesis. This review summarizes recent knowledge about the non-synaptic activation of GABA(A)Rs and GlyRs, both in developing and adult CNS. We first present studies that reveal the functional specialization of both non-synaptic GABA(A)Rs and GlyRs and we discuss the neuronal versus non-neuronal origin of the paracrine release of GABA(A)R and GlyR agonists. We then discuss the proposed non-synaptic release mechanisms and/or pathways for GABA, glycine, and taurine. Finally, we summarize recent data about the various roles of non-synaptic GABAergic and glycinergic systems during the development of neuronal networks and in the adult.

The glycine transport inhibitor sarcosine is an inhibitory glycine receptor agonist

Sarcosine is an endogenous amino acid that is a competitive inhibitor of the type I glycine transporter (GlyT1), an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) co-agonist, and an important intermediate in one-carbon metabolism. Its therapeutic potential for schizophrenia further underscores its clinical importance. The structural similarity between sarcosine and glycine and sarcosine's ability to serve as an NMDAR co-agonist led us to examine whether sarcosine is also an agonist at the inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR). We examined this possibility using whole-cell recordings from cultured embryonic mouse hippocampal neurons and found that sarcosine evoked a dose-dependent, strychnine sensitive, Cl(-) current that cross-inhibited glycine currents. Sarcosine evoked this current with Li(+) in the extracellular solution to block GlyT1, in neurons treated with the essentially irreversible GlyT1 inhibitor N[3-(4'-fluorophenyl)-3-(4'-phenylphenoxy)propyl]sarcosine (NFPS), and in neurons plated in the absence of glia. These results indicate that the sarcosine currents did not result from GlyT1 inhibition or heteroexchange. We conclude that sarcosine is a GlyR agonist.

Activation of the tonic GABAC receptor current in retinal bipolar cell terminals by nonvesicular GABA release

Within the second synaptic layer of the retina, bipolar cell (BC) output to ganglion cells is regulated by inhibitory input to BC axon terminals. GABA(A) receptors (GABA(A)Rs) mediate rapid synaptic currents in BC terminals, whereas GABA(C) receptors (GABA(C)Rs) mediate slow evoked currents and a tonic current, which is strongly regulated by GAT-1 GABA transporters. We have used voltage-clamp recordings from BC terminals in goldfish retinal slices to determine the source of GABA for activation of these currents. Inhibition of vesicular release with concanamycin A or tetanus toxin significantly inhibited GABA(A)R inhibitory postsynaptic currents and glutamate-evoked GABA(A)R and GABA(C)R currents but did not reduce the tonic GABA(C)R current, which was also not dependent on extracellular Ca(2+). The tonic current was strongly potentiated by inhibition of GABA transaminase, under both normal and Ca(2+)-free conditions, and was activated by exogenous taurine; however inhibition of taurine transport had little effect. The tonic current was unaffected by GAT-2/3 inhibition and was potentiated by GAT-1 inhibition even in the absence of vesicular release, indicating that it is unlikely to be evoked by reversal of GABA transporters or by ambient GABA. In addition, GABA release does not appear to occur via hemichannels or P2X(7) receptors. BC terminals therefore exhibit two forms of GABA(C)R-mediated inhibition, activated by vesicular and by nonvesicular GABA release, which are likely to have distinct functions in visual signal processing. The tonic GABA(C)R current in BC terminals exhibits similar properties to tonic GABA(A)R and glutamate receptor currents in the brain.

The glycine transport inhibitor sarcosine is an NMDA receptor co-agonist that differs from glycine

Sarcosine is an amino acid involved in one-carbon metabolism and a promising therapy for schizophrenia because it enhances NMDA receptor (NMDAR) function by inhibiting glycine uptake. The structural similarity between sarcosine and glycine led us to hypothesize that sarcosine is also an agonist like glycine. We examined this possibility using whole-cell recordings from cultured embryonic mouse hippocampal neurons. We found that sarcosine is an NMDAR co-agonist at the glycine binding site. However, sarcosine differed from glycine because less NMDAR desensitization occurred with sarcosine than with glycine as the co-agonist. This finding led us to examine whether the physiological effects of NMDAR activation with these two co-agonists are the same. The difference in desensitization probably accounts for rises in intracellular Ca(2+), as assessed by the fluorescent indicator fura-FF, being larger when NMDAR activation occurred with sarcosine than with glycine. In addition, Ca(2+)-activated K(+) currents following NMDAR activation were larger with sarcosine than with glycine. Compared to glycine, NMDAR-mediated autaptic currents decayed faster with sarcosine suggesting that NMDAR deactivation also differs with these two co-agonists. Despite these differences, NMDAR-dependent neuronal death as assessed by propidium iodide was similar with both co-agonists. The same was true for neuronal bursting. Thus, sarcosine may enhance NMDAR function by more than one mechanism and may have different effects from other NMDAR co-agonists.

Taurine improves congestive functions in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome

Increased seizure susceptibility is a feature of the mouse model for fragile X that has parallels in the hyperarousal and prevalence of seizures in the fragile X syndrome. Our investigation of the basis for the increased seizure susceptibility of the fragile X mouse indicated a reduction in GABA(A) receptor expression and increased expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the enzyme responsible for GAB(A) synthesis. Taurine-fed mice also show these GABAergic alterations. However, unlike fragile X mice, taurine-fed mice show a significant increase in memory acquisition and retention. This discordance implies that there may be divergent events downstream of the biochemical changes in the GABAergic system in these two mouse models. To investigate the divergence of these two models we fed taurine to fragile X mice. Our preliminary data shows that taurine supplementation to fragile X mice resulted in a significant improvement in acquisition of a passive avoidance task. Since taurine is an agonist for GABA(A) receptor, we suggest that chronic activation of GABA(A) receptors and the ensuing alterations in the GABAergic system may have beneficial effects in ameliorating the learning deficits characteristic of the fragile X syndrome.

Functional implication of taurine in aging

Age-related impairment of central functions is though to result from alterations of neurochemical indices of synaptic function. These neurochemical modifications involve structural proteins, neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and related receptors. Several studies demonstrated that GABA receptors, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65&67), and different subpopulations of GABAergic neurons are markedly decreased in experimental animal brains during aging. Thus, the age-related decline in cognitive functions could be attributable, at least in part, to decrements in the function of the GABAergic inhibitory neurotransmitter system. In this study we show that chronic supplementation of taurine to aged mice significantly ameliorated the age-dependent decline in memory acquisition and retention, and caused alterations in the GABAergic system. These changes include increased levels of the neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate, increased expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase and the neuropeptide somatostatin and increased in the number of somatostatin-positive neurons. These specific alterations of the inhibitory system caused by taurine treatment oppose those naturally-occurring during aging, and suggest a protective role of taurine in this process. Increased understanding of age-related neurochemical changes in the GABAergic system will be important in elucidating the underpinnings of the functional changes of aging. Taurine might help forestall the age-related decline in cognitive functions through interaction with the GABAergic system.

Selective resistance of taurine-fed mice to isoniazide-potentiated seizures: in vivo functional test for the activity of glutamic acid decarboxylase

Taurine, 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is one of the most abundant free amino acids especially in excitable tissues, with wide physiological actions. We have previously reported that in mice, supplementation of the drinking water with taurine induces alterations in the inhibitory GABAergic system. In taurine-fed mice we found that the expression level of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the enzyme responsible for GABA synthesis, is elevated. Increased expression of GAD was accompanied by increased levels of GABA. Here, we investigated pharmacologically the functional significance of taurine-induced increase in GAD expression by determining the threshold for kainic acid-induced seizures after partial inhibition of GAD activity with isoniazide. We found that taurine-fed mice have elevated GAD expression and showed a higher threshold for seizure onset when compared with age-matched controls. Thus, taurine-fed mice have a functional increase in GAD activity which offers some protection in this seizure model. Furthermore, this pharmacological manipulation can be used to determine the level of GAD activity in other model systems that show alterations in GAD expression.

Taurine increases mitochondrial buffering of calcium: role in neuroprotection

We have determined the role of mitochondria in the sequestration of calcium after stimulation of cerebellar granule cells with glutamate. In addition we have evaluated the neuroprotective role of taurine in excitotoxic cell death. Mitochondrial inhibitors were used to determine the calcium buffering capacity of mitochondria, as well as how taurine regulates the ability of mitochondria to buffer intracellular calcium during glutamate depolarization and excitotoxicity. We report here that pre-treatment of cerebellar granule cells with taurine (1 mM, 24 h) significantly counteracted glutamate excitotoxicity. The neuroprotective role of taurine was mediated through regulation of cytoplasmic free calcium ([Ca(2+)]( i )), and intra-mitochondrial calcium homeostasis, as determined by fluo-3 and (45)Ca(2+)-uptake. Furthermore, the overall mitochondrial function was increased in the presence of taurine, as assessed by rhodamine accumulation into mitochondria and total cellular ATP levels. We specifically tested the hypothesis that taurine reduces glutamate excitotoxicity through both the enhancement of mitochondrial function and the regulation of intracellular (cytoplasmic and intra-mitochondrial) calcium homeostasis. The role of taurine in modulating mitochondrial calcium homeostasis could be of particular importance under pathological conditions that are characterized by excessive calcium overloads. Taurine may serve as an endogenous neuroprotective molecule against brain insults.

Role of taurine uptake on the induction of long-term synaptic potentiation

Taurine application in the CA1 area of rat hippocampal slices induces a long-lasting potentiation of excitatory synaptic transmission that has some mechanistic similitude with the late phase of long-term potentiation (L-LTP). Previous indirect evidence such as temperature and sodium dependence indicated that taurine uptake is one of the primary steps leading to the taurine-induced synaptic potentiation. We show that taurine-induced potentiation is not related to the intracellular accumulation of taurine and is not impaired by 2-guanidinoethanesulphonic acid, a taurine transport inhibitor that is a substrate of taurine transporter. We have found that taurine uptake in hippocampal synaptosomes was inhibited by SKF 89976A, a GABA uptake blocker that is not transportable by GABA transporters. SKF 89976A prevents the induction of synaptic potentiation by taurine application. This effect is neither mimicked by nipecotic acid, a broad inhibitor of GABA transporters that does not affect taurine uptake, nor by NO-711, a specific and potent inhibitor of GABA transporter GAT-1. In addition, L-LTP induced by trains of high-frequency stimulation is also inhibited by SKF 89976A, and taurine, at a concentration that does not change basal synaptic transmission, overcomes such inhibition. We conclude that taurine induces synaptic potentiation through the activation of a system transporting taurine and that taurine uptake is required for the induction of synaptic plasticity phenomena such as L-LTP.

Prevention of epileptic seizures by taurine

Parenteral injection of kainic acid (KA), a glutamate receptor agonist, causes severe and stereotyped behavioral convulsions in mice and is used as a rodent model for human temporal lobe epilepsy. The goal of this study is to examine the potential anti-convulsive effects of the neuro-active amino acid taurine, in the mouse model of KA-induced limbic seizures. We found that taurine (43 mg/Kg, s.c.) had a significant antiepileptic effect when injected 10 min prior to KA. Acute injection of taurine increased the onset latency and reduced the occurrence of tonic seizures. Taurine also reduced the duration of tonic-clonic convulsions and mortality rate following KA-induced seizures. Furthermore, taurine significantly reduced neuronal cell death in the CA3 region of the hippocampus, the most susceptible region to KA in the limbic system. On the other hand, supplementation of taurine in drinking water (0.05%) for 4 continuous weeks failed to decrease the number or latency of partial or tonic-clonic seizures. To the contrary, we found that taurine-fed mice showed increased susceptibility to KA-induced seizures, as demonstrated by a decreased latency for clonic seizures, an increased incidence and duration of tonic-clonic seizures, increased neuronal death in the CA3 region of the hippocampus and a higher post-seizure mortality of the animals. We suggest that the reduced susceptibility to KA-induced seizures in taurine-injected mice is due to an increase in GABA receptor function in the brain which increases the inhibitory drive within the limbic system. This is supported by our in vitro data obtained in primary neuronal cultures showing that taurine acts as a low affinity agonist for GABA(A) receptors, protects neurons against kainate excitotoxic insults and modulates calcium homeostasis. Therefore, taurine is potentially capable of treating seizure-associated brain damage.

Exogenous glutamate and taurine exert differential actions on light-induced release of two endogenous amino acids in isolated rat retina

A dark-adapted isolated rat retina, preloaded with [(14)C]glutamate ([(14)C]Glu) and [(3)H]taurine ([(3)H]Tau), was superfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) in the absence and presence of Glu (1 mM) or Tau (1 mM), as well as the Glu uptake inhibitors dihydrokainic acid (DHK, 0.04 mM) and trans-L-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (t-PDC, 0.004 mM). After 10 min of light stimulation, the extracellular level of [(14)C]Glu and [(3)H]Tau was reduced to 82 +/- 2% and 65 +/- 4% of the control, respectively. Basal release was enhanced when Tau and t-PDC were applied together, although none of the compounds had any effect when applied individually. Glu and DHK had no effect. The decrease of [(14)C]Glu efflux evoked by light stimuli was enhanced by t-PDC and Tau, either added separately or together, whereas Glu and DHK were without effect. In contrast, [(3)H]Tau efflux variations induced by light stimuli were reduced markedly by both Tau and Glu. These findings suggest distinctly different roles of Tau and Glu in light-induced responses in mammalian retina, including a possible role for Tau in light adaptation processes.

Taurine-induced long-lasting enhancement of synaptic transmission in mice: role of transporters

Taurine, a major osmolyte in the brain evokes a long-lasting enhancement (LLETAU) of synaptic transmission in hippocampal and cortico-striatal slices. Hippocampal LLETAU was abolished by the GABA uptake blocker nipecotic acid (NPA) but not by the taurine-uptake inhibitor guanidinoethyl sulphonate (GES). Striatal LLETAU was sensitive to GES but not to NPA. Semiquantitative PCR analysis and immunohistochemistry revealed that taurine transporter expression is significantly higher in the striatum than in the hippocampus. Taurine transporter-deficient mice displayed very low taurine levels in both structures and a low ability to develop LLETAU in the striatum, but not in the hippocampus. The different mechanisms of taurine-induced synaptic plasticity may reflect the different vulnerabilities of these brain regions under pathological conditions that are accompanied by osmotic changes such as hepatic encephalopathy.

Multiple modes of GABAergic inhibition of rat cerebellar granule cells

Cerebellar granule cells are inhibited phasically by GABA released synaptically from Golgi cells, but are inhibited more powerfully by tonic activity of high affinity alpha 6 subunit-containing GABAA receptors. During development the tonic activity is generated by the accumulation of GABA released by action potentials, but in the adult the tonic activity is independent of action potentials. Here we show that in adult rats the tonic activation of GABAA receptors is produced by non-vesicular transmitter release and is reduced by the activity of GAT-1 and GAT-3 GABA transporters, demonstrating that alterations of GABA uptake will modulate information flow through granule cells. Acetylcholine (ACh) evokes a large Ca2+-dependent but action potential-independent release of GABA, which activates alpha 6 subunit-containing GABAA receptors. These data show that three separate modes of transmitter release can activate GABAA receptors in adult cerebellar granule cells: action potential-evoked exocytotic GABA release, non-vesicular release, and ACh-evoked Ca2+-dependent release independent of action potentials. The relative magnitudes of the inhibitory charge transfers generated by action potential-evoked release (during high frequency stimulation of the mossy fibres), tonic inhibition and superfused ACh are 1:3:12, indicating that tonic and ACh-mediated inhibition may play a major role in regulating granule cell firing.

Guanidinoethyl sulphonate is a glycine receptor antagonist in striatum

1. Guanidinoethyl sulphonate (GES) is an analogue of taurine and an inhibitor of taurine transport. Interactions of GES with GABA(A) and glycine receptors are studied by whole cell recording and fast drug application in isolated striatal neurons of the mouse. 2. We confirm that GES is a weak agonist at GABA(A) receptors, and is able to antagonize GABA-evoked responses. GES did not gate GlyR. 3. GES antagonized glycine responses in a concentration-dependent and surmountable manner. Glycine dose-response curves were shifted to the right by GES (0.5 mM), yielding EC(50)s and Hill coefficients of 62 micro M and 2.5 in control, 154 micro M and 1.3 in the presence of GES. 4. GlyR-mediated taurine responses were competitively antagonized by GES. Taurine dose-response curves, in contrast to the glycine dose-response curves were shifted by GES to the right in a parallel manner. 5. The GlyR-block by GES was not voltage-dependent. 6. In contrast to our findings in the mouse, in rat striatal neurons which lack expression of the alpha3 GlyR subunit, GES shifted the glycine dose-response curve to the right in a parallel way without affecting the maximal response. Subtype-specificity of the GES action at GlyR must await further investigation in artificial expression systems. 7. We conclude that GES is a competitive antagonist at GlyR. The antagonistic action of GES at inhibitory ionotropic receptors can explain its epileptogenic action. Care must be taken with the interpretation of data on GES evoked taurine release.

Long-lasting enhancement of corticostriatal neurotransmission by taurine

Taurine occurs at high concentrations in the forebrain and its distribution varies with (patho)physiological conditions; however, its role in neural function is poorly understood. We have now characterized its effects on corticostriatal synaptic transmission. Bath application of taurine (10 mm) to slices obtained from mice and rats exerted a biphasic action on corticostriatal field potentials. The fast and reversible inhibition by taurine was accompanied by a depolarization and conductance increase in medium spiny neurons and was sensitive to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A and glycine receptor (GlyR) antagonists. A long-lasting enhancement (LLETAU) of field potentials was recorded after taurine withdrawal. The LLETAU was not prevented by N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)- or by GABAA receptor-antagonists, but was sensitive to the GlyR-antagonist strychnine and blocked by the competitive taurine uptake inhibitor guanidinoethylsulphonate (GES, 1 mm). GES at 10 mm evoked an enhancement of field potentials similar to LLETAU. LLETAU depended on protein kinase C activation as it was blocked by chelerythrine, but was unaffected by trifluoperazine, and thus independent of calmodulin. LLETAU was significantly smaller in juvenile than in mature rodents. Activation of GlyRs and the specific taurine transporter by taurine evoke a long-lasting enhancement of corticostriatal transmission.

Functional glycine receptor maturation in the absence of glycinergic input in dopaminergic neurones of the rat substantia nigra

The postnatal maturation pattern of glycine receptor channels (GlyRs) expressed by dopaminergic (DA) neurones of the rat substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) was investigated using single-channel and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in brain slices from rats aged 7-21 postnatal days (P). In neonatal rats (P7-P10), GlyRs exhibited a main conductance state of 100-110 pS with a mean open time of 16 ms. In juvenile rats (P19-P22), both the GlyR main conductance state (46-55 pS) and the mean open time (6.8 ms) were decreased. In neonatal rats, application of 30 microM picrotoxin, which is known to block homomeric GlyRs, strongly reduced glycine-evoked responses, while it was much less effective in juvenile rats. These results suggest that these GlyRs correspond functionally to alpha(2) homomeric GlyRs in neonatal rats and alpha(1)/beta heteromeric GlyRs in juvenile rats. A drastic but transient decrease in the glycine responsiveness of DA neurones occurred around P17 concomitant to the functional switch from the homomeric state to the heteromeric state. This age corresponds to a maturation phase for DA neurones. The application of 1 microM gabazine blocked spontaneous or evoked inhibitory synaptic current, while the addition of 1 microM strychnine had no effect, suggesting a lack of functional glycinergic synapses on DA neurones. Although it has been proposed that taurine is co-released with GABA at GABAergic synapses on DA neurones, in the present study the stimulation of GABAergic fibres failed to activate GlyRs. Blockade of taurine transporters and applications of high K(+) and hyposmotic solutions were also unable to induce any strychnine-sensitive current. We conclude that functional maturation of GlyRs can occur in the absence of any detectable GlyR activation in DA neurones of the SNc.

Modulation of extracellular neurotransmitter levels in the nucleus accumbens by a taurine uptake inhibitor

Using in vivo microdialysis, we examined the effect of local perfusion of the taurine uptake inhibitor guanidinoethyl sulfonate on extracellular levels of various neurotransmitters in the rat nucleus accumbens. Guanidinoethyl sulfonate (500 microM-50 mM) produced a concentration-dependent increase in extracellular taurine levels. While 500 microM and 5 mM concentrations of guanidinoethyl sulfonate were largely without effect, 50 mM guanidinoethyl sulfonate produced a significant decrease in extracellular levels of aspartate, glutamate and glycine, with no effect on extracellular dopamine levels. These results indicate that guanidinoethyl sulfonate can modulate extracellular amino acid levels in the nucleus accumbens.