Comparison of taurine-verapamil interaction in hamsters and rats

Taurine concentrations were determined in hearts and whole blood of female Syrian golden hamsters and Wistar rats following 30 days of drinking: (i) tap water, (ii) taurine solution or (iii) a taurine uptake inhibitor (GES). The groups were duplicated in animals receiving daily verapamil injections during the treatment period. Heart taurine increased with (ii) and decreased with (iii) in both species; blood taurine changed similarly in rats only. Verapamil enhanced taurine uptake and offset the GES inhibition in the hamster heart, but had no such effect in rats. Possible implications of the species differences are elaborated upon.