Characterization of Absorption Process of Taurine Across Rat Small Intestine

A mechanism of taurine transfer across the rat small intestine was elucidated by using the in situ recirculation perfusion or loop method. Taurine uptake was saturable, Km= 39.9 mM, and energy dependent, and required sodium. The close structural analogues, aminomethane sulfonic acid, .gamma.-amino-butyric acid, hypotaurine, and .betha.-alanine, reduced significantly taurine uptake when present in 10-fold excess. The .alpha.-amino acid, glycine, did not inhibit uptake. Hence, all of these findings lead to a conclusion that a carrier-mediated transport system for taurine exists in the small intestine.