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3094408 
Journal Article 
Modulation of human GABA rho 1 receptors by taurine 
Ochoa-De la Paz, LD; Martinez-Davila, IA; Miledi, R; Martinez-Torres, A 
2008 
1 
Neuroscience Research
ISSN: 0168-0102
EISSN: 1872-8111 
61 
3 
302-308 
WOS:000257004300010 
A study was made of the effects of taurine on GABA rho 1 receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The EC(50) and reversal potentials for GABA, taurine and glycine currents were 2.3 +/- 0.4 mu M (-25 +/- 0.9 mV), 5 +/- 0.8 mM (-27 +/- 0.4 mV) and 7 +/- 0.5 mM (-22 +/- 0.6 mV), respectively. Co-application of GABA and taurine, revealed a taurine concentration-dependent biphasic-modulation of the receptor: at 0.3-30 mu M taurine potentiated the GABA-currents, whereas at 0.3-30 mM the GABA-currents were reduced. In contrast glycine potentiated the GABA-currents at all concentrations tested. TPMPA, a GABA(C) specific receptor antagonist, also blocked effectively and reversibly the taurine and glycine currents. Finally, lanthanum and zinc modulated the currents generated by the three amino acids. Taurine is abundant in the retina and our observations suggest that taurine may play an important role modulating the retinal GABAergic transmission. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and the Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved. 
GABA(C); taurine; glycine; Xenopus oocytes