Pentylenetetrazol seizure threshold and extracellular levels of cortical amino acids in taurine-deficient kittens

Enzyme-Catalyzed Side Reactions with Molecular Oxygen may Contribute to Cell Signaling and Neurodegenerative Diseases

A link between neurodegeneration and well-characterized enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions that produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) from O(2) is well established. Several enzymes that contain pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) or thiamine diphosphate (ThDP) catalyze side reactions (paracatalytic reactions) in the presence of ambient O(2). These side reactions produce oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide [H(2)O(2)] or extremely reactive peracids [RC(O)OOH]. We hypothesize that although these enzymes normally produce oxidants at low or undetectable levels, changes in substrate levels or disease-induced structural alterations may enhance interactions with O(2), thereby generating higher levels of reactive oxidants. These oxidants may damage the enzymes producing them, alter nearby macromolecules and/or destroy important metabolites/coenzymes. We propose that paracatalytic reactions with O(2) catalyzed by PLP-dependent decarboxylases and by ThDP-dependent enzymes within the alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes may contribute to normal cellular signaling and to cellular damage in neurodegenerative diseases.

Kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures in Sprague-Dawley rats and the effect of dietary taurine (TAU) supplementation or deficiency

Male Sprague-Dawley rats received TAU supplementation (1.5% in drinking water) or TAU deficient diets for 4 weeks to test for a possible neuroprotective role of TAU in KA-induced (10 mg/kg s.c.) seizures. TAU supplementation significantly increased serum and hippocampal TAU levels, but not TAU content in temporal cortex or striatum. TAU deficient diets did not attenuate serum or tissue TAU levels. Dietary TAU supplementation failed to decrease the number or latency of partial or clonic-tonic seizures or wet dog shakes, whereas a TAU deficient diet decreased the number of clonictonic and partial seizures. This study does not support previous observations of an anticonvulsant effect of TAU against KA-induced seizures. KA-treatment decreased alpha 2-adrenergic receptor binding sites and TAU content in the temporal cortex across all dietary treatment groups, supporting previous evidence of severe KA-induced damage and neuronal loss in this brain region.

The epileptogenic action of the taurine analogue guanidinoethane sulfonate may be caused by a blockade of GABA receptors

The aim of this paper is to clarify the mechanism through which the taurine analogue guanidinoethane sulfonate (GES) produces its epileptogenic effects. Experiments were performed in the rat hippocampus in vivo, using a brain dialysis probe also containing a recording electrode. Perfusion of 10 mM GES induced an enhancement of extracellular taurine levels probably as a result of forced efflux through the taurine uptake systems in a heteroexchange process. This taurine increase was highly reversible. GES also induced an increase of neuronal excitability and an impairment of recurrent inhibition as judged by the neuronal pattern discharge of evoked potentials. These results indicate the possible implication of GABA receptors in the epileptogenic effect of GES. Specific binding of [3H]-GABA to P2 fractions was inhibited by both bicuculline methiodide (BMI) and GES with the same potency. Similar results were obtained using cerebral sections. Autoradiographic experiments confirm the binding results. GES and BMI completely displaced [3H]-GABA binding. All these results suggest that the epileptogenic GES action is due to a direct antagonism on GABAA receptors.