Effect of taurine on the microvessel exchange function and adrenergic response of veins and arteries in the cat skeletal muscle

In cats anesthetized with Uretan and perfused with a constant blood volume, Taurine induced responses of neither arterial nor venous vessels of the skeletal muscle but increased the capillary filtration coefficient without any significant change of the capillary pressure in the skeletal muscle's microvessels. Taurine also increased both the constrictor and the dilatory responses of the arterial and venous vessels. The mechanism of the Taurine effects upon the smooth muscle elements of arteries and veins as well as upon proper mechanisms of capillary pressure control and capillary filtration coefficient, seems to be calcium-dependent.