Biomaterial Database

High affinity (Na(+) + Cl-)-dependent taurine transport by lactating mammary tissue. 1994

D B Shennan, and S A McNeillie

Hannah Research Institute, Ayr, UK.

The transport of taurine by lactating rat mammary tissue has been examined. Taurine uptake was found to be dependent upon the presence of extracellular Na+ and Cl-, which is consistent with (Na(+) + Cl(-) + taurine) cotransport. The Ka and Vmax of taurine influx were respectively 43 microM and 37.5 mumol/kg cell water per 15 min. It is apparent that the mechanism responsible for taurine uptake is highly selective for beta-amino acids. Taurine efflux consisted of a fast extracellular component and a slow membrane-limited component. The slow component was relatively insensitive to temperature, suggesting that it may represent simple diffusion. Mammary tissue was found to contain a high level of intracellular taurine: 7.29-7.44 mmol/kg cell water. We suggest that taurine is taken up and concentrated by the mammary gland by a (Na(+) + Cl(-) + taurine) cotransport mechanism situated in the blood-facing aspect of the secretory epithelium and that a low outward permeability to taurine allows a high intra-to-extracellular concentration gradient to be maintained. Milk taurine may be derived from taurine diffusing from the cell cytosol across the apical membrane.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D007774	Lactation	The processes of milk secretion by the maternal MAMMARY GLANDS after PARTURITION. The proliferation of the mammary glandular tissue, milk synthesis, and milk expulsion or let down are regulated by the interactions of several hormones including ESTRADIOL; PROGESTERONE; PROLACTIN; and OXYTOCIN.	Lactation, Prolonged,Milk Secretion,Lactations, Prolonged,Milk Secretions,Prolonged Lactation,Prolonged Lactations
D008321	Mammary Glands, Animal	MAMMARY GLANDS in the non-human MAMMALS.	Mammae,Udder,Animal Mammary Glands,Animal Mammary Gland,Mammary Gland, Animal,Udders
D008892	Milk	The off-white liquid secreted by the mammary glands of humans and other mammals. It contains proteins, sugar, lipids, vitamins, and minerals.	Cow Milk,Cow's Milk,Milk, Cow,Milk, Cow's
D002352	Carrier Proteins	Proteins that bind or transport specific substances in the blood, within the cell, or across cell membranes.	Binding Proteins,Carrier Protein,Transport Protein,Transport Proteins,Binding Protein,Protein, Carrier,Proteins, Carrier
D002712	Chlorides	Inorganic compounds derived from hydrochloric acid that contain the Cl- ion.	Chloride,Chloride Ion Level,Ion Level, Chloride,Level, Chloride Ion
D004058	Diffusion	The tendency of a gas or solute to pass from a point of higher pressure or concentration to a point of lower pressure or concentration and to distribute itself throughout the available space. Diffusion, especially FACILITATED DIFFUSION, is a major mechanism of BIOLOGICAL TRANSPORT.	Diffusions
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001692	Biological Transport	The movement of materials (including biochemical substances and drugs) through a biological system at the cellular level. The transport can be across cell membranes and epithelial layers. It also can occur within intracellular compartments and extracellular compartments.	Transport, Biological,Biologic Transport,Transport, Biologic