Effects of intrahypothalamic kainic acid injection on taurine levels, binding and uptake.

The neurochemical effects of unilateral intrahypothalamic injection of kainic acid on taurine levels and synaptosomal uptake and binding of taurine were investigated. Seven days after the kainic acid injections, there were no changes in either taurine uptake or binding. However, taurine levels were significantly increased by 54% over the control contralateral side. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that taurine is localized in glial cells; the increased levels being a result of gliosis after kainic acid injections.