Taurine

Literature References: Conditionally essential nutrient, important during mammalian development, especially for cells of the cerebellum and retina. Conjugates bile acids, present in most milk (but only minimally in that of dairy cows); occurs also in lungs and flesh extract of oxen, in shark blood, in mussels, in oysters. Isoln from ox bile: Hammarsten, Z. Physiol. Chem. 32, 456 (1901); from the large muscle of abalone (Haliotis): Schmidt, Watson, J. Biol. Chem. 33, 499 (1918). Synthesis starting with 2-bromoethanesulfonate: C. S. Marvel, C. F. Bailey, Org. Synth. coll. vol. II, 563 (1943). Synthesis by sodium sulfite sulfonation of ethylene chloride followed by ammonolysis with anhydr NH3 or with aq NH3 and ammonium carbonate: Schick, Degering, Ind. Eng. Chem. 39, 906 (1947). Importance to retinal function in cats: A. R. Rabin et al., Invest. Ophthalmol. 12, 694 (1973); K. C. Ha et al., Science 188, 949 (1975); E. L. Berson et al., Invest. Ophthalmol. 15, 52 (1976); K. C. Hayes, Can. Vet. J. 23, 2 (1982). Comparison of taurine depletion in humans and other mammals: K. C. Hayes, J. A. Sturman, Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 139, 79 (1982). Presence in human milk: G. E. Gaull, J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 2, Suppl. 1, 266 (1983); idem, Acta Paediatr. Scand. Suppl. 296, 38 (1982). Concn in plasma and urine of breast-fed and formula-fed infants: A.-L. Järvenpää et al., Pediatrics 70, 221 (1982). Association of retinal dysfunction with low plasma taurine levels in adults: H. S. Geggel et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 312, 142 (1985). Books: Taurine, R. Huxtable, A. Barbeau, Eds. (Raven Press, New York, 1975) 480 pp; Taurine: Nutritional Value and Mechanisms of Action, J. B. Lombardini et al., Eds. (Plenum Press, New York, 1992) 456 pp.