Effect of taurine on release of 3H-GABA by depolarizing stimuli from superfused slices of rat brain cerebral cortex in vitro.

The effect of taurine on potassium (30 mM), veratrine (10 micrograms ml-1) and ouabain (100 microM) induced release of 3H-GABA from superfused slices of rat brain cerebral cortex had been studied. Taurine (10--100 mM) potentiated K+-induced release of 3H-GABA but was more potent in potentiating veratrine- and ouabain-induced release, having significant effects at 5 mM and 1 mM respectively. The potentiation of stimulus induced release does not appear to be due to inhibition of reuptake and the effect is consistent with both a 'modulatory' role and anticonvulsant action for taurine.