Subcellular distribution of taurine and cysteinesulphinate decarboxylase in developing rat brain

Agrawal, Harish C.; Davison, Alan; Kaczmarek, L. K.

doi:10.1042/bj1220759

Cited by 176 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The increase in fetal liver and brain cyst(e)ine concentrations suggests to us that the capac ity of the fetus to metabolize excess cyst(e)ine is limited, particularly in the brain. This ob servation would be in agreement with the reports of low activities of cysteinesulfmic acid decarboxylase in developing rat brain [13,14], Cysteinesulfmic acid decarboxylase has been suggested to be the rate-limiting enzyme for the synthesis of taurine from cys teine and thus a major pathway for the catab olism of cysteine. The inability to metabolize rapidly excess cysteine may put the fetus at risk for developing the neurotoxic effects as sociated with high concentrations of cysteine given to developing rats [3], Second, the increase in placental gluta thione concentration in the maternal rats that received an injection of cysteine was very close to being equal to the difference in the cyst(e)ine concentration between the placenta and maternal plasma (0.236 mM = increase in placental glutathione; 0.202 mM = differ ence between placenta and maternal plasma cyst(e)ine concentration).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Maternal-Fetal Cyst(e)ine Transfer

Malloy¹,

Rassin²,

McGanity³

1983

Neonatology

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In order to investigate the mechanisms by which cyst(e)ine (referring in the following to the mixture, in any proportion, of the sulfhydryl form of this compound – cysteine -and the disulfide form – cystine) transfer across the placenta to the fetus might be limited we first assessed the original observation that cyst(e)ine concentrations in fetal plasma are less than or equal to maternal cyst(e)ine concentrations. Second, we determined the capacity of the placenta to concentrate cyst(e)ine. And third, using an animal model, we determined the effects of providing excess cysteine to maternal rats on maternal-fetal cyst(e)ine transfer. Our data confirm (1) that cyst(e)ine is present in concentrations in human cord plasma that are equal to maternal plasma cyst(e)ine concentrations; (2) establish that cyst(e)ine is concentrated in the placenta, and (3) suggest that the incorporation of cyst(e)ine into glutathione in the placenta may limit the transfer of cyst(e)ine to the fetus.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Maternal-Fetal Cyst(e)ine Transfer

Malloy¹,

Rassin²,

McGanity³

1983

Neonatology

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“…These differences suggest that the demands for taurine are increased during special physiological functions in certain developmental stages or certain brain areas. Taurine's greatest concentrations are in the brains of newborn mammals, and they decrease as development progresses (Agrawal et al, 1971;Culter and Dudzinski, 1974;Saransaari and Oja, 1994). The activity of the taurine synthesizing enzyme cysteine sulfinic decarboxylase increases during development (Agrawal et al, 1971).…”

Section: Functional Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Taurine in rat posterior pituitary: Localization in astrocytes and selective release by hypoosmotic stimulation

1997

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Taurine, a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-like acidic amino acid, has previously been shown to be prominently localized to astrocytes in the supraoptic nucleus, the neurons of which contain only small amounts, and to have inhibitory actions on supraoptic neuronal activity. In the present study, taurine distribution in the neurohypophysis was determined by using a well-characterized monoclonal antibody against taurine itself. Preembedding immunohistochemistry was performed at light and electron microscopic levels by using diaminobenzidine and gold-substituted silver-intensified peroxidase (GSSP) methods. At the light microscopic level, the distribution pattern and cellular localization of taurine immunoreactivity corresponded to that of glial fibrillary acidic protein. Pituicyte cell bodies and processes displayed dense taurine immunoreactivity. Electron microscopic observations revealed strong taurine GSSP reactions in these neural lobe astrocytes, but weak taurine reactivity was seen within only some neurosecretory axons. High-performance liquid chromatography analyses demonstrated that in vitro hypoosmotic stimulation (reduction of 40 mOsm/kg) of isolated posterior pituitaries resulted in preferential increases in taurine release into the bathing medium without increased release of other amino acids. Conversely, tissue concentrations of taurine significantly decreased with hypoosmotic perfusion, while glutamate, glutamine, and GABA concentrations were not reduced. These results indicate that taurine is mainly concentrated in neurohypophysial astrocytes, which are known to engulf the neurosecretory axonal processes and terminals. Taurine released from pituicytes under basal and hypoosmotic conditions may act to suppress axon terminal depolarization and thereby depress release of neurohypophysial peptides.

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“…Taurine is present in fetal and neonatal mammalian tissues, especially the brain, in high concentrations relative to adult levels and is abundant in the milk, especially the early milk, of most lactating mammals [1][2][3][4][5][6], It is possible that taurine has an important biological role during development in man and other mammals [7,8], Taurine may function as a neurotransmitter or neuro modulator. facilitate the formation of synap tic connections in developing neural tissue, exert effects on membrane permeability and ionic fluxes, or play a role in membrane structure and stability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Cysteine Dioxygenase and Cysteinesulfinate Decarboxylase Activities and Taurine Levels in Tissues of Pregnant or Lactating Rat Dams and Their Fetuses or Pups

Kuo¹,

Stipanuk²

1984

Neonatology

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The level of taurine and the activities of the two enzymes involved in its synthesis, cysteine dioxygenase and cysteinesulfinate decarboxylase, were measured in tissues of rat dams during pregnancy and lactation and in their fetuses or pups. The most marked changes observed in the dams included an increased hepatic taurine concentration in late pregnancy (20 days), a decreased plasma taurine concentration during late pregnancy and throughout lactation, and a decrease in tissue cysteine dioxygenase activity in late lactation (20 days). These observations suggest that the dam’s taurine pools may be an important source of taurine for secretion in the milk and that pregnant dams may prepare for the onset of lactation by accumulating additional taurine in the liver. There was little if any correlation between the activities of either of these key enzymes in taurine synthesis and tissue taurine levels. The taurine concentrations in liver, brain, heart and plasma of the young decreased between 1 day before birth and 20 days of age. Cysteine dioxygenase and cysteinesulfinate decarboxylase specific activities increased in the brains of pups between birth and 20 days of age, and cysteinesulfinate decarboxylase activity increased in the livers of pups between birth and 20 days of age. Cysteinesulfinate decarboxylase activity in 80-day-old male rats was more than six times that in female littermates, but no effects of sex on cysteine dioxygenase activity or tissue taurine concentrations were observed.

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Subcellular distribution of taurine and cysteinesulphinate decarboxylase in developing rat brain

Cited by 176 publications

References 28 publications

Maternal-Fetal Cyst(e)ine Transfer

Maternal-Fetal Cyst(e)ine Transfer

Taurine in rat posterior pituitary: Localization in astrocytes and selective release by hypoosmotic stimulation

Changes in Cysteine Dioxygenase and Cysteinesulfinate Decarboxylase Activities and Taurine Levels in Tissues of Pregnant or Lactating Rat Dams and Their Fetuses or Pups

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