Tissue taurine content and conjugated bile acid composition of rhesus monkey infants fed a human infant soy-protein formula with or without taurine supplementation for 3 months.

The concentrations of taurine in a number of brain regions and in other tissues of rhesus monkeys fed a taurine-free human infant formula for 3 months are substantially lower than in similar monkeys fed the same formula supplemented with taurine. Activities of enzymes involved in taurine biosynthesis were not different in the two groups except for liver cysteinesulfinic acid decarboxylase, which was greater in the monkeys fed formula alone. There was no difference in the biliary bile acid composition, but the proportion of bile acids conjugated with taurine was significantly greater in the monkeys fed formula supplemented with taurine. These results indicate that the effects of a taurine-deficient diet on infant primates are widespread.