METABOLISM OF HYPOTAURINE IN SOME ORGANS OF THE RAT

Although various physiological roles were suggested for taurine in different tissues like brain, heart, retina, the origin of this substance in these tissues is still unclear. Taurine could be provided by the diet and could also be synthesized. Until now, three main pathways were described or postulated in mammals for this biosynthesis 1: the “inorganic pathway” untilizing inorganic sulfate, the “cysteamine pathway”, the “cysteine sulfinic pathway”.