Taurine Synthesis,Concentration,and Bile Salt Conjugation in Rat,Guinea Pig,and Rabbit

Abstract

Summary

The percentage of bile salts conjugated with taurine in bile (%T), the taurine concentration, and the CSA-CA decarboxylase activity in the liver, kidney, brain, lung, and heart were compared in rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Hepatic CSA-CA decarboxylase and %T exhibited a highly significant (P < 0.001) positive correlation between the species tested. Species with lower hepatic taurine synthetic capability (and lower %T) had a greater ex-trahepatic taurine synthetic capability. No significant correlation was observed between taurine synthetic capacity (via CSA-CA decarboxylase), taurine concentration, and taurine turnover in the tissues of these species.