Role of Intracellular Taurine in Monensin-induced $Na^+,\;Ca^{++}$ Accumulation and Mechanical Dysfunction in Isolated Rat Hearts

It has been postulated that the intracellular taurine is co-transported with $Na^+$down a concentration gradient and prevents the intracellular accumulation of sodium. It is therefore, expected that an elevated level of intracellular taurine prevents the sodium-promoted calcium influx to protect the cellular damages associated with sodium and calcium overload. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of intra- and extracellular taurine on the myocardial $Na^+$and$Ca^{++}$ contents and the cardiac functions in isolated rat hearts which were loaded with sodium by monensin, a $Na^+-ionophore$. Monensin caused a dose-dependent increase in intracellular $Na^+$ accompanied with a subsequent increase in intracellular $Ca^{++}$ and a mechanical dysfunction. In this monensin-treated heart, myocardial taurine content was decreased with a concomittent increase in the release of taurine. The monensin-induced increases in intracellular $Na^+$, $Ca^{++}$ and depression of cardiac function were prevented in the hearts of which taurine content had been increased by high-taurine diet. Conversely, in the hearts of which taurine concentration gradient had been decreased by addition of taurine in the perfusate, the monensin-induced increases in $Na^+$, $Ca^{++}$ and functional depression were accelerated. These results suggest that taurine, depending on the intra-extracellular concentration gradient, can affect intracellular sodium and calcium concentrations, and that an increased intracellular taurine may play a role in protection of myocardial dysfunction associated with the sodium and calcium overload.