Reduction of liver taurine in rats by β-alanine treatment increases carbon tetrachloride toxicity

Treatment of rats with β-alanine increases the urinary levels and markedly reduces the concentration of taurine in the liver. Dosing with carbon tetrachloride (CCL 4) during treatment with β-alanine results in a marked decrease in urinary taurine concomitant with a decrease in food intake. Treatment of animals with β-alanine increases the hepatotoxicity of single doses of CCL 4 as determined histologically and by measurement of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels. Urinary creatine is also raised significantly after the administration of CCL 4 in β-alanine-treated animals. However, the accumulation of triglycerides (TRIG) in the liver caused by dosing with CCL 4 was not influenced by β-alanine treatment. The data suggest that liver taurine levels may be an important factor in determining the degree of CCL 4-induced cellular necrosis but not hepatic triglyceride accumulation.