Is there a correlation between taurine levels and xenobiotic-induced perturbations in protein synthesis?: a study with tetracycline in rats

Changes in urinary levels of taurine have been reported in rats following treatment with various xenobiotics including those which alter protein synthesis and/or are hepatotoxic. This paper reports on the time course of the urinary elevation of taurine following treatment of rats with tetracycline (50, 150 and 200 mg.kg-1). Maximum taurine excretion occurred 8-12 h following dosing. Serum albumin and total protein were significantly lower after 24 h (200 mg.kg-1). The increase in urinary taurine was dose-related and reflected in the raised serum levels of taurine 24 h after dosing. Serum and urinary protein and [3H]-leucine incorporation into acid precipitable protein in liver and muscle were reduced by tetracycline (100, 150 and 200 mg.kg-1) 10 h after dosing. The reduction in protein synthesis was correlated with increased urinary and serum levels of taurine at 10 h. The use of taurine as a non-invasive marker of protein synthesis is discussed.