The effect of taurine on calcium exchange of sarcoplasmic reticulum of guinea pig heart studied by means of dialysis kinetics.

Calcium binding and release by sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles of guinea pig heart were studied by means of a dialysis apparatus and analyzed with a model of three closed compartments. The rate constants of calcium binding were increased by taurine, and this effect was dose-related, whereas calcium efflux rate constants were very near to 0 in control experiments and were not effected by taurine. Taurine therefore increased the calcium content of sarcoplasmic vesicles and decreased the calcium concentration of the medium. beta-Alanine had no action on calcium fluxes.