Inhibition of cholinergic response by taurine in frog isolated skeletal muscle

Carbamylcholine-stimulated contractions of isolated frog gastrocnemius muscle were inhibited in a non-competitive fashion by 5-25 mM taurine. Taurine had no effect on the resting length of the muscle. Caffeine-induced contractures were unaffected by taurine which indicates that the sarcoplasmic reticulum is not an important site of action for taurine. A possible functional role for taurine in skeletal muscle is discussed.