Ms. Mozaffari et al., RENAL EXCRETORY RESPONSES OF TAURINE-DEPLETED RATS TO HYPOTONIC AND HYPERTONIC SALINE INFUSION, Amino acids, 15(1-2), 1998, pp. 109-116
Male Wistar-Kyoto rats were given either tap water (control) or 3% bet
a-alanine (taurine-depleted) for three weeks. To prepare for the kidne
y function studies, the animals were then implanted with femoral vesse
ls and bladder catheters. Two days after surgery, each rat was given a
n intravenous infusion of saline at the rate of 50 mu l/min and urine
samples were collected at specific time intervals. An isotonic saline
solution (0.9% NaCl) was infused for determination of baseline paramet
ers and was followed by the infusion of a hypotonic saline solution (0
.45% NaCl). Two days later, the infusion protocol was repeated in the
same animals; however, a hypertonic saline solution (1.8% NaCl) was su
bstituted for the hypotonic saline solution. Renal excretion of fluid
and sodium increased in the control, but not taurine-depleted, rats du
ring the hypotonic saline infusion. Interestingly, diuretic and natriu
retic responses were similar between the groups during hypertonic sali
ne infusion. The results suggest that taurine-depletion in rats affect
s renal excretory responses to a hypotonic, but not a hypertonic, sali
ne solution.