Role of taurine in the central nervous system

Wu, Jang‐Yen; Prentice, Howard

doi:10.1186/1423-0127-17-s1-s1

Cited by 219 publications

(144 citation statements)

References 45 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

136

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…This contrasts with the finding in our two present cases. Taurine not only has a neuroprotective function in reducing the calcium influx from various calcium channels, including NMDA receptors, but also inhibits the apoptosis cascade [11]. We speculate that taurine levels increase reactively to protect neurons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Essential Tremor with Aspartic Acidemia

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

INTRODUCTIONEssential tremor (ET) is one of the most prevalent movement disorders [1,2], and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is thought to be the main neurotransmitter involved in the ET pathophysiology. The amino acid glutamate has also been implicated in ET [3]. Although the amino acid aspartate is less potent than glutamate in excitatory neurotransmission under normal physiological conditions, aspartate is one of the two major endogenous excitatory amino acids [4], however, its pathogenic role in ET remains unknown. We describe here two cases of typical ET with aspartic acidemia and review the literature in this field. CASE REPORTCase 1 was a 42-year-old man (height: 175.9 cm; weight: 75.7 kg) who first noticed a nervous tremor and writing tremor at the age of 30. A head tremor developed at the age of 38. There was no familial history of tremor. Excess sweating was observed on his palms and plantars. Neurological examination revealed no abnormalities, except for a fine head tremor at rest and a bilateral fine postural tremor of the finger. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free T4 levels were normal. Anti-thyroglobulin antibody levels were negative. Plasma aspartic acid was 9.8 nmol/ml (normal: <2.4 nmol/ml), glutamic acid was 87.6 nmol/ml (normal: 12.6-62.5 nmol/ml), taurine was 224.2 nmol/ ml (normal: 39.5-93.2 nmol/ml), asparagine was 42.4 nmol/ml (normal: 44.7-96.8 nmol/ml), and β-alanine was 4.6 nmol/ml (normal: trace). Blood levels of the other 34 amino acids were within or near their normal ranges (Table). Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated no abnormalities ( Figure A, B).Case 2 was a 71-year-old woman (height: 154 cm, weight: 52 kg) who first noticed a head tremor at the age of 65. She had no family history of tremor. Upon examination, a head tremor was observed at rest, as well as a bilateral postural and kinetic hand tremor. Serum TSH, free T3, and free T4 levels were normal. Plasma aspartic acid was 4.7 nmol/ml, glutamic acid was 65.1 nmol/ml, taurine was 116.1 nmol/ml, and asparagine was 44.3 nmol/ml. Blood levels of the other 35 amino acids were near their normal ranges (Table). Brain MRI revealed no definitive evidence of abnormality ( Figure C, D). Kurume Medical Journal, 63, 81-84, 2016 Summary: We describe two cases of typical essential tremor with aspartic acidemia and mildly increased concentrations of plasma glutamic acid. Although this is a preliminary report, we emphasize the possibility of using amino acids, including aspartic acid, as biomarkers for the detection of essential tremor.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Essential Tremor with Aspartic Acidemia

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In particular, taurine is present in high concentrations in brain and acts as a partial agonist at GlyR receptors (Wu and Prentice, 2010). Microdialysis studies reveal that EtOH applied systemically or locally induces a rapid increase in extracellular taurine levels in the nucleus accumbens (Adermark et al, 2011;Smith et al, 2004) with much less effect in dorsal striatum (Smith et al, 2004) suggesting brain regional differences in EtOH-taurine interactions.…”

Section: Etoh Decreases Intrinsic Excitability Of Ofc Neuronsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethanol Reduces Neuronal Excitability of Lateral Orbitofrontal Cortex Neurons Via a Glycine Receptor Dependent Mechanism

Badanich

Mulholland

Beckley

et al. 2013

Neuropsychopharmacol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Trauma-induced damage to the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) often results in behavioral inflexibility and impaired judgment. Human alcoholics exhibit similar cognitive deficits suggesting that OFC neurons are susceptible to alcohol-induced dysfunction. A previous study from this laboratory examined OFC mediated cognitive behaviors in mice and showed that behavioral flexibility during a reversal learning discrimination task was reduced in alcohol-dependent mice. Despite these intriguing findings, the actions of alcohol on OFC neuron function are unknown. To address this issue, slices containing the lateral OFC (lOFC) were prepared from adult C57BL/6J mice and whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology was used to characterize the effects of ethanol (EtOH) on neuronal function. EtOH (66 mM) had no effect on AMPA-mediated EPSCs but decreased those mediated by NMDA receptors. EtOH (11-66 mM) also decreased current-evoked spike firing and this was accompanied by a decrease in input resistance and a modest hyperpolarization. EtOH inhibition of spike firing was prevented by the GABA A antagonist picrotoxin, but EtOH had no effect on evoked or spontaneous GABA IPSCs. EtOH increased the holding current of voltage-clamped neurons and this action was blocked by picrotoxin but not the more selective GABA A antagonist biccuculine. The glycine receptor antagonist strychnine also prevented EtOH's effect on holding current and spike firing, and western blotting revealed the presence of glycine receptors in lOFC. Overall, these results suggest that acutely, EtOH may reduce lOFC function via a glycine receptor dependent process and this may trigger neuroadaptive mechanisms that contribute to the impairment of OFC-dependent behaviors in alcohol-dependent subjects.

show abstract

“…Taurine increases the development of nerve tissue and is important for synaptic transmission in central nervous system [18]. It protects against epileptic seizures and glutamate excitotoxicity [19].…”

Section: Pharmacological Effects Of Taurinementioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Some Pharmacological Effects of Caffeine and Taurine in Food Supplements

Tsvetkova¹,

Klisurov²,

Pankova³

et al. 2015

IJNFS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:In modern times in all age groups energy supplements containing different amounts of Caffeine and Taurine are applied. Caffeine is purine alkaloid, which stimulates central nervous system action, enhances the strength and frequency of the cardiac contractions and increases the excretion of urine. Taurine is a sulfur containing amino acid, which possesses many fundamental biological roles including: effect on synaptic transmission in the central nervous system, cardiotropic action, antioxidant and anticonvulsant activity, improvement of energy processes, stimulation of reparative processes in tissues, protection of eyes cataract, decrease of cholesterol and stimulation of immune system. The combination of Caffeine and Taurine provide benefit due to obtaining synergism of pharmacological effects in increasing of physical activity, stimulation of brain action, cognition, memory and attention. In connection with the significant enlarging of the consumption of energy drinks, especially by children and young people in recent years the requirements for regulation and control of the labeling of these products in many countries are enlarged. In many food additives Caffeine and Taurine are added in not labeled high concentrations, which can provoke and increase their side effects. High consumption of Caffeine enhances its adverse effects on body: anxiety, headache, insomnia, nervousness, respiratory disorders, tachycardia, tremor, dehydration. In children the adverse reactions of Caffeine in much lower doses than adults are occurred. In high concentrations Taurine has adverse effects on brain activity and can induce psoriasis. The result of combination of Caffeine and Taurine is associated with increased diuretic effect and loss of water and salts from the body, especially in children and young people. Because of these facts the quality and quantity control of included compounds in food supplements is important for their health safety.

show abstract

Role of taurine in the central nervous system

Cited by 219 publications

References 45 publications

Essential Tremor with Aspartic Acidemia

Essential Tremor with Aspartic Acidemia

Ethanol Reduces Neuronal Excitability of Lateral Orbitofrontal Cortex Neurons Via a Glycine Receptor Dependent Mechanism

Investigation of Some Pharmacological Effects of Caffeine and Taurine in Food Supplements

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About