Taurine release from brain slices in thioacetamide-induced hepatic encephalopathy in rats.

The possible involvement of taurine in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy was studied in rats injected with thioacetamide. Spontaneous release of exogenous labeled taurine was not affected in any brain area studied, but the potassium-stimulated release was enhanced in the striatum in thioacetamide-treated rats. High concentrations of ammonium ions also evoked greater release of taurine from striatal slices in rats with thioacetamide-induced hepatic encephalopathy.