TAURINE DISTRIBUTION IN CAT BRAIN

Abstract— The distribution of taurine was investigated in 16 areas of the brain, in cats transected either at collicular or at midpontine level. A comparison was also made between the content in the same areas of the cerebral cortex of the two groups of cats showing respectively either a synchronized or an activated electrocorticogram. Taurine was determined in picric acid extracts by means of column chromatography followed by thin layer chromatography of the eluates. The levels of taurine were fairly uniform in all areas investigated with the exception of the lateral geniculate bodies, the pituitary gland and the pineal gland where the levels were higher than in all other regions. The taurine content of the cortex of cats showing a synchronized EEG pattern was higher than in the cortex of cats showing an activated pattern. The results are discussed in the light of the limited information available on the possible role of taurine in the CNS.