Taurine transport at the blood-brain barrier in spontaneously hypertensive rats and normotensive rats

Taurine, 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid is widely distributed in animal tissues and has a variety of biological activities. A recent worldwide study demonstrated beneficial effects of taurine on aging and age-associated disorders. In general, taurine levels in the brain decrease when an animal is subjected to pathologic conditions such as ischemia-anoxia and seizure. But taurine levels tend to increase in the brain in hypertention. In the present study, the blood-brain barrier BBB) transport of [$^3$H]taurine was compared between spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats (SD) using Internal artery carotid perfusion (ICAP) at a rate of 4$m\ell$/min for 10, 15 and 30 second. Calculated V$\_$D/, volume of distribution in brain, and PS, the permeability surface area product of [$^3$H]taurine through the BBB in SHR was a little lower than that in SD. PS for 15s is more higher than that of other seconds in both of them. It could be followed by taurine efflux back into blood after 15s. We also obtained pharmacokinetic parameters using intravenous injection of plasma volume marker, [$\^$14/C]sucrose and [$^3$H] taurine. PS value of [$^3$H]taurine in SHR (16.1 ${\pm}$ 2.9 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-3/ $m\ell$/min/g) was significantly higher than that in SD (7.4 ${\pm}$ 0.8 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-3/ $m\ell$/min/g). There is also significant difference for %ID/g in brain between SHR (0.195 ${\pm}$ 0.031) and SD (0.058 ${\pm}$ 0.003).