Taurine release in the rat vas deferens is modulated by Ca2+ and is independent of contractions

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 1999

Authors

Diniz, C (Author) FFUP; Fresco, PD (Author) FFUP; Goncalves, J (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: European Journal of Pharmacology

Vol. 376

Pages: 273-278

ISSN: 0014-2999

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 1 Citation

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Basic medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-3W3

DOI: 10.1016/s0014-2999(99)00388-x

Abstract (EN): Electrical field stimulation induces taurine release in rat vas deferens. In the present study, it was investigated if this release is secondary to contraction. The influence of Ca2+ and of the stimulation conditions was also studied. Contractions evoked by electrical field stimulation (5 Hz/270 pulses, transverse or longitudinal) were recorded and released taurine was quantified by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection. Ca2+ removal abolished contractions, but not the overflow of taurine. Overflow elicited by longitudinal electrical field stimulation was higher than that elicited by transverse electrical field stimulation. Increasing the current strength also increased taurine overflow. In Ca2+-free medium, taurine overflow was decreased by caffeine (5 mM) or ryanodine (10 mu M) but increased by dantrolene (50 mu M). The results indicate that taurine release evoked by electrical field stimulation is (i) independent of contraction, (ii) modulated by Ca2+, (iii) potential dependent, and may be due to a decrease in taurine affinity for the plasma membrane and/or to an increase of Na(+)dependent outward transport.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6