COMPARATIVE-STUDIES OF CA N-ACETYLHOMOTAURINATE AND CA N-ACETYLTAURINATE .1. EFFECTS ON THE IONIC TRANSFER THROUGH THE ISOLATED HUMAN AMNION

The effects of two taurine and homotaurine derivatives (Ca N-acetyltau rinate: ATACa and Ca N-acetylhomotaurinate: AOTACa) were studied on th e ionic transfer through a membranous model: the human isolated amniot ic membrane. The ionic transfer was evaluated by measurements of the v arious components (cellular and paracellular) of the total conductance across the membrane. AOTACa influenced all the components of the tota l ionic conductance without flux ratio modifications and the general a ction scheme was a biphasic effect: decrease conductance with low conc entrations and increase conductance with high concentrations. This eff ect might be important in the case of lower or higher supplementation. ATACa only interfered with some conductance components and this actio n was predominantly monosphasic (decreased or increased conductance). This study indicates differential actions between two closely related molecules on a membranes model.