Effects of taurine on reproduction and behaviour in GR/A mice

The characteristics of GR/A mice are rather poor pup growth and vigorous activity associated with increased excretion of taurine during pregnancy and lactation. The relationship between taurine and these characteristics were studied. The group of GR/A mice given a 1% taurine solution in their drinking water on the first day of pregnancy (day when the vaginal plug was found) (group I) or on the day of parturition (group II) differed little from the control group given tap water in all reproductive parameters, including pup growth. The spontaneous motor activities of both the female and male 4-month-old offspring of group I were markedly lower than those of the offspring of the control and group II, and than that of group III, which was given taurine after of weaning. These findings strongly suggest that taurine, possibly by acting on the developing brain at the fetal stage, has a long-term effect on the behaviour of this strain of mice, while it has little effect on their reproduction.