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Taurine and ethanol interactions: behavioral effects in mice.
Brett C Ginsburg1, Richard J Lamb
1Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. ginsburg@uthscsa.edu
European Journal of Pharmacology
|October 27, 2007
Summary
Taurine (an amino acid) did not significantly enhance ethanol
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Taurine, an abundant brain amino acid, shares effects with ethanol.
- Taurine-containing beverages are anecdotally reported to amplify ethanol's euphoric effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between taurine and ethanol on behavior.
- To examine strain-specific differences in response using two mouse models.
Main Methods:
- Administered varying doses of taurine and ethanol alone and in combination to C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice.
- Assessed effects on locomotion, ataxia, and loss of righting reflex.
Main Results:
- Taurine pretreatment attenuated ethanol's locomotor-stimulating effects, particularly in C57BL/6J mice.
- Taurine appeared to reduce ethanol's ataxic effects in C57BL/6J mice.
- Initial experiments showed complex results due to tolerance and sensitization in DBA/2J mice.
Conclusions:
- The interaction between taurine and ethanol is subtle.
- Results do not support a major role for taurine in ethanol's primary behavioral effects.
