Changes in concentrations of taurine in murine Harderian glands and retinas during postnatal development.

Quantitative measurements of taurine in the Harderian glands of male and female CF-1 mice were made by standard methods of amino acid analysis. Values, in nmoles per mg dry weight of gland, were 60 to 70 in the first 4 postnatal days with a gradual decrease to 31.1 +/- 3.5 at 12 days, just prior to eye opening. This was similar to the value of 27 +/- 1 observed in sexually mature males, 53 days old. Two to 11 animals were used to establish each value. Other free amino acids in the glands are present in much lower concentrations, difficult to quantitate. Comparisons of the nmolar concentrations of taurine in dry retinas and Harderian glands from the same animals revealed two to three fold higher concentrations in the retina until the time of eye opening, after which concentrations increased markedly to greater than 160 nmoles per mg dry retina at 16 days and older.