INCREASE OF BRAIN TAURINE CONTENTS OF EL MICE BY PHYSIOLOGICAL STIMULATION

We determined the effect of physiological stimulation on taurine contents in three regions (cerebral cortex, brain stem and cerebellum) of the brain of El mice, a genetically epileptic strain. Taurine contents in all regions of the brain increased significantly at the onset of convulsions, as induced by tossing the animals up many times. Levels in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum increased markedly in the early stage of the stimulation, yet convulsion did not occur. Taurine contents in the cerebral cortex and brain stem returned to the resting level within 30 min after the onset of convulsions, while levels in the cerebellum remained high for 3 hr. Concentration of taurine in the plasma also increased with the onset of convulsions. On the other hand, taurine administration increased the threshold of convulsion by the stimulation in El mice. © 1979, The Japanese Pharmacological Society. All rights reserved.