Electrophysiological approach to the action of taurine on rat gastric mucosa.

The effect of taurine on isolated rat gastric mucosa was examined electrophysiologically in order to clarify the mechanism of taurine-induced effect on drug absorption. Although taurine itself had little effect on the electrical parameters, potential difference (PD), short-circuit current (Isc), and tissue electrical resistance (R), of the gastric mucosa, sodium lauryl sulfate, an anionic surfactant, was shown to reduce these parameters remarkably. On the other hand, when aspirin was present, taurine showed different effects on the gastric mucosa depending on the concentrations of aspirin. Taurine decreased Isc significantly in the presence of aspirin at low concentration (1 mM), which has in itself no influence on the electric parameters. In contrast, aspirin at higher concentration (10 mM) was shown to act as barrier breaker of the gastric mucosa resulting in a marked decline of PD and Isc. When taurine was added, however, these parameters were reasonably recovered. It seems to be likely that taurine acts as a protector against the aspirin-induced damage in the gastric mucosa.