AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 242, Issue 1 64-R69, Copyright © 1982 by American Physiological Society
Renal handling of taurine in marine fish
H. Schrock, R. P. Forster and L. Goldstein
Net renal tubular excretion of taurine was demonstrated by clearance
techniques in the dogfish, Squalus acanthias; the little skate, Raja
erinacea; and in the winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus.
Dogfish acclimated to 70% seawater had increased renal excretion of taurine
resulting from higher glomerular filtration rates of taurine as well as
from increased rats of tubular secretion. Tubular secretion of taurine
prevailed in the dogfish and flounders measured, whereas it occurred in
only 30% of the population of skates where tubular reabsorption
predominated. Taurine uptake into incubated dogfish thin kidney slices was
investigated. Uptake occurs mainly across the peritubular membrane, is
carrier mediated, dependent on metabolic energy, and completely inhibited
by ouabain and low Na in the medium. The active transport of taurine is
also inhibited by beta-alanine but not by alpha-aminoisobutyric acid,
glycine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, PAH, or probenecid.
