Levels and uptake of taurine in various brain regions after drug-induced generalized convulsions.

In a study of the role of taurine in the genesis of epilepsy the effects of metrazol-induced convulsions on the uptake and distribution of taurine in the brain were measured. In vivo we found no significant uptake of taurine in the mouse brain; in rabbit brain in most areas significant taurine uptake was found. The physiological levels of taurine were much higher in mouse brain than in rabbit brain. In vivo the regional levels and the uptake of taurine were not significantly changed after generalized convulsions. Uptake in vivo was lowered in slices obtained from mice treated with metrazol. The lack of effect of metrazol convulsions on cerebral taurine in vivo indicates that further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between taurine, a putative inhibitory transmitter, and epilepsy.