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Taurine as a Neuromodulator: Its Action on Calcium Fluxes and Neurotransmitter Release

  • Chapter
Regulatory Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission

Abstract

Taurine is an ubiquitous constituent of animal tissues (25); its highest levels are found in excitable organs like brain, heart and secretory glands, where it may reach concentrations as high as 20–100 mM (8,25,27). In spite of its wide distribution and of recent interest in studies on taurine, the elucidation of its functional role has been particularly difficult. Taurine is not associated to proteins and except for the formation of taurocholic acid it does not participate in metabolic reactions. Therefore, it could be thought that the presence of taurine in a tissue or organ should be related only to the specific function subserved by the amino acid. In this communication we will consider some possible roles of taurine in nervous tissue.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Neurociencias Centro de Investigaciones en Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México 20, D. F., Mexico

    Herminia Pasantes-Morales & Julio Morán

Authors
  1. Herminia Pasantes-Morales
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  2. Julio Morán
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences, Center for Research in Cellular Physiology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico

    Ricardo Tapia

  2. Department of Psychobiology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA

    Carl W. Cotman

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© 1981 Plenum Press, New York

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Pasantes-Morales, H., Morán, J. (1981). Taurine as a Neuromodulator: Its Action on Calcium Fluxes and Neurotransmitter Release. In: Tapia, R., Cotman, C.W. (eds) Regulatory Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3968-7_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3968-7_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-3970-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-3968-7

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