Taurine: retinal function

Pattern recognition of amino acid signatures in retinal neurons

“…Class El and I?2 cells are GABAergic by classical criteria (e.g., Yazulla, 1986;Marc, 1992) but differ in GABA, aspartate, glutamine, and taurine levels. Differentiation of GABAergic neurons based on taurine content has previously been noted in cerebellum (Ottersen et al, 1988) and cortex (Kritzer et al, 1992), but the difference in taurine signals is not explicable in terms of any obvious metabolic model (see review by Lombardini, 1991). Photoreceptors, bipolar cells, and most ganglion cells are generally considered to be glutamatergic neurons (Ehinger et al, 1988;Massey, 1990;Marc et al, 1990), but the signatures of class E4 ganglion cells differ from the El bipolar cell/photoreceptor class profile with approximately four times the glutamine, twice the aspartate, and less than one-fifth the taurine.…”

Immunocytochemical Localization of Taurine in the Pineal Organ and Retina of an Anadromous Fish, Plecoglossus altivelis.

“…Another possible function of taurine in the pineal and retinal tissues may be involved in the modulation of signal transduction (LOMBARDINI, 1991). Taurine reportedly possesses an inhibitory effect on protein phosphorylation which modulates and/or regulates synaptic transmission in the outer plexiform layer.…”

“…The possible functions of taurine suggested concerning the retinal tissue (LOMBARDINI, 1991) were: 1) protection of photoreceptor outer segments; 2) regulation of Ca2+ transport; and 3) regulation of signal transduction. In the pineal organ of the rat, in contrast, taurine content was found higher at mid-day than during night (NIR et al, 1973;MCNULTY et al, 1992) and inhibition of the release and/or synthesis of melatonin has been proposed as a possible role of taurine (BASKIN and DAGIRMANJIAN, 1973).…”

Biosynthesis of food constituents: Amino acids: 4. Non-protein amino acids - a review

“…Taurine is essential for many biological processes, such as bile salt synthesis (the major pathway of taurine metabolism), development of the brain and eyes, reproduction, osmoregulation as well as the anti-inflammatory activity of leukocytes (LOMBARDINI 1991;PARK et al 2002). It also plays a significant role as an antioxidant preventing the oxidative damage that occurs during the aging process (EPPER & DAWSON 2001).…”