Taurine deficiency in the developing cat: Persistence of the cerebellar external granule cell layer

Abstract

Dietary taurine deprivation adversely affects feline pregnancy and is associated with the frequent occurrence of fetal resorption, abortion, stillbirth, and low birthweight of live kittens at term. Taurine-deprived, live-born kittens have a poor postnatal survival rate and grow less well than kittens from taurine-supplemented queens. The postnatal dietary taurine intake of such kittens is reduced if they are nursed by their biologic mothers; the concentration of taurine in milk of taurine-deprived mothers is less than 10% of that in milk from taurine-supplemented queens. Surviving kittens from taurine-deprived mothers exhibit a constellation of neurological abnormalities (abnormal hind leg development, a peculiar gait characterized by excessive abduction and paresis, and thoracic kyphosis readily visible by X-ray). These findings suggest the presence of a developmental cerebellar deficit. Histological examination of the pre- and postnatally taurine-deprived kitten's cerebellum reveals a persistence of the external granule cell layer, which was confirmed by electron-microscopic examination. Numerous mitotic figures are present in the cells in the external granule cell layer of the cerebellum of kittens born from the nursed by taurine-deprived queens, but not in those from taurine-supplemented mothers. These findings suggest a maturational delay.

Taurine Inhibits K+-Cl− Cotransporter KCC2 to Regulate Embryonic Cl− Homeostasis via With-no-lysine (WNK) Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway

“…6 disrupts normal radial migration. Because taurine inhibits KCC2 activation, our results using a taurine-insensitive KCC2 mutant may support previous studies showing that taurine-deficient kittens exhibit abnormalities in neuronal migration in the visual cortex and the external granule cell layer of the cerebellum (32,33).…”

“…Taurine is a candidate due to enrichment in immature neurons during cerebral cortex development (30,31). In addition, taurine-deficient kittens show abnormal neuronal migration in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum (32,33). We observed that ectopically expressed KCC2 is suppressed by taurine in the embryonic brain and becomes functional in postnatal brains.…”

Functional TauT Protects Against Acute Kidney Injury

“…[21][22][23] Studies have demonstrated that taurine and the taurine transporter play an important role in kidney development. 24,25 In the F1 generation of inbred taurine-deficient cats, taurine deficiency results in renal malformation, with significantly diminished renal size and progressive kidney damage. 15 In mammals, the taurine total body pool is controlled at the site of the S3 segment of the renal proximal tubule through renal adaptive regulation of the taurine transporter gene.…”

Nutritional Factors Affecting Semen Quality in Felids

“…12 In female domestic cats, taurine depletion severely compromises reproductive performance, including an increase in fetal resorption, abortion, and stillbirth. 26 Live-born kittens demonstrate numerous neurologic abnormalities, low birth weight, and poor postnatal survival rate caused by inadequate maternal lactation. 26 The domestic cat's minimum taurine requirement was studied, 5,23 and a taurine content of 500 mg/kg dry matter of the diet was adequate for pregnancy in cats.…”