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Science 14 August 1987:
Vol. 237. no. 4816, pp. 764 - 768
DOI: 10.1126/science.3616607
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Articles

Science, Vol 237, Issue 4816, 764-768
Copyright © 1987 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Myocardial failure in cats associated with low plasma taurine: a reversible cardiomyopathy

PD Pion, MD Kittleson, QR Rogers, and JG Morris

Thousands of pet cats die each year with dilated cardiomyopathy, the cause of which is unknown. Although taurine is present in millimolar concentrations in the myocardium of all mammals, taurine depletion has not previously been associated with a decrease in myocardial function in any species. In this study, low plasma taurine concentrations associated with echocardiographic evidence of myocardial failure were observed in 21 cats fed commercial cat foods and in 2 of 11 cats fed a purified diet containing marginally low concentrations of taurine for 4 years. Oral supplementation of taurine resulted in increased plasma taurine concentrations and was associated with normalization of left ventricular function in both groups of cats. Since myocardial concentrations of taurine are directly related to plasma concentrations and low plasma concentrations were found to be associated with myocardial failure in cats, a direct link between decreased taurine concentration in the myocardium and decreased myocardial mechanical function is proposed.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
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Dietary Rice Bran Decreases Plasma and Whole-Blood Taurine in Cats.
M. Stratton-Phelps, R. C. Backus, Q. R. Rogers, and A. J. Fascetti (2002)
J. Nutr. 132, 1745S-1747
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P. R. Fox, B. J. Maron, C. Basso, S.-K. Liu, and G. Thiene (2000)
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Chronic Administration of Taurine to Aged Rats Improves the Electrical and Contractile Properties of Skeletal Muscle Fibers.
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Protein Phosphorylation and Taurine Biosynthesis In Vivo and In Vitro.
X. W. Tang, C.-C. Hsu, J. V. Schloss, M. D. Faiman, E. Wu, C.-Y. Yang, and J.-Y. Wu (1997)
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Echocardiographic Assessment of Spontaneously Occurring Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy : An Animal Model of Human Disease.
P. R. Fox, S.-K. Liu, and B. J. Maron (1995)
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Taurine Decreases Fecal Fatty Acid and Sterol Excretion in Cystic Fibrosis: A Randomized Double-blind Trial.
L. J. Smith, F. Lacaille, G. Lepage, N. Ronco, A. Lamarre, and C. C. Roy (1991)
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 145, 1401-1404
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Taurine and Cholesterol Supplementation in the Term Infant: Responses of Growth and Metabolism.
D. K. Rassin, N. C.R. Raiha, I. Minoli, and G. Moro (1990)
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