TAURINE - A PREVENTIVE AGENT OF THE ACUTE ETHANOL DEPLETIVE ACTION ONTHE ISOLATED HUMAN AMNIOTIC MEMBRANE

The preventive effect of taurine towards the acute ethanol reduction a ction was studied on the ionic transfer through the isolated human amn iotic membrane. Taurine increased 3 components of the ionic transfer e xpressed by the conductance measurements (Na+ and K+ paracellular cond uctances through the intercellular spaces and coupling cell factor bet ween 2 adjacent epithelial cells, expressed by a voltage ratio). These components were decreased by ethanol. Electrophysiological studies (c onductance and voltage measurements) indicated that the addition of ta urine (0.1-1 mM) before ethanol (0.4 g/l) hindered the decrease action of ethanol on the Na+ and K+ paracellular conductances and on the cou pling cell factor. These data indicated a common target between taurin e and ethanol: the membraneous phospholipids, particularly the distrib ution of the external fixed charges. The preventive action of taurine versus ethanol, on the human amniotic membrane, was exerted on the pol ar groups of phospholipids, hindering the incorporation of ethanol mol ecules.