Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is an enigmatic compound abounding in animal tissues. It is present at relatively high concentrations in all electrically excitable tissues such as brain, sensory organs, heart, and muscle, and in certain endocrine glands. Some of its physiological functions are already established, for example as an essential nutrient during development and as a neuromodulator or osmolyte, but the cellular mechanisms are still mostly a matter of conjecture. Moreover, there are a number of other putative functions of taurine less well known at present.

Taurine 7 contains the proceedings of the 16th International Taurine Meeting. This meeting is a multidisciplinary symposium, with participants presenting different fields of biological science. This volume focuses on all aspects of taurine research from immunology and its effect on health to chemistry and biochemistry, including future clinical applications.

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Part 1. Cardiovascular and Renal Effects of Taurine.- Effect of Taurine on Protein Kinase C Isoforms: Role in Taurine's Actions?.- Taurine as the Nutritional Factor for the Longevity of the Japanese Revealed by a World-wide Epidemiological Survey.- Taurine-Mediated Cardioprotection is Greater When Administered upon Reperfusion than Prior to Ischemia.- Vascular Modulation of Rat Aorta by Taurine.- Modulation by Taurine of Human Arterial Stiffness and Wave Reflection.- Taurine Suppresses Pressor Response through the Inhibition of Sympathetic Nerve Activity and the Improvement in Baro-Reflex Sensitivity of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.- Beneficial Effect of Taurine Treatment against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Mice.- Antihypertensive Effect of Taurine in Rat.- Attenuating Action of Taurine and Labetalol on Cardiovascular Alterations by Pyridoxal-Isopro-terenol, a Vitamin-Drug Interaction with Cardiopathologic Significance.- Tool from Traditional Medicines is Useful for Health-Medication: Bezoar Bovis and Taurine.- Mechanism of TauT in Protecting against Cisplatin-Induced Kidney Injury (AKI).- TauT Protects against Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Established in a TauT Transgenic Mice Model.- Perinatal Taurine Depletion Increases Susceptibility to Adult Sugar-induced Hypertension in Rats.- Sex Dependent Effects of Perinatal Taurine Exposure on the Arterial Pressure Control in Adult Offspring.- Perinatal Taurine Alters Arterial Pressure Control and Renal Function in Adult Offspring.- Part 2. Effect of Taurine on Brain and Retina.- Taurine Protects Immature Cerebellar Granullar Neurons against Acute Alcohol Administration.- Mechanism of Neuroprotective Function of Taurine.- Taurine and Guanidinoethanesulfonic Acid (GES) Differentially Affects theExpression and Phosphorylation of Cellular Proteins in C6 Glial Cells.- Taurine Improves Congestive Functions in a Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome.- Functional Implication of Taurine in Aging.-Effects of Taurine on Anxiety-Like and locomotor Behavior of Mice.- Taurine Transporter in Lymphocytes of Patients with Major Depression Treated with Venlafaxine Plus Psychotherapy.- Effect of Medium Osmolarity and Taurine on Neuritic Outgrowth from Goldfish Retinal Explants.- Localization of Taurine Transporter, Taurine, and Zinc in Goldfish Retina.- Part 3. Effect of Taurine on Skeletal Muscle.-Effects of Taurine Administration on Exercise.- Characterization of Myogenic Differentiation under Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Taurine Treatment.- Part 4. Gastroenteric and Hepatic Effects of Taurine.- Dietary Taurine Attenuates Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) -induced Experimental Colitis in Mice.- Protective Effect of Taurine against Nitrosative Stress in the Stomach of Rat with Water Immersion Restraint Stress.- Taurine Feeding Inhibits Bile Acid Absorption from the Ileum in Rats Fed a High Cholesterol and High Fat Diet.- The Protective Effect of Taurine against Hepatic Damage in a Model of Liver Disease and Hepatic Stellate Cells.- Taurine Depletion by b-Alanine Inhibits Induction of Hepatotoxicity in Mice Treated Acutely with Carbon Tetrachloride.- Effect of Taurine on Alcoholic Liver Disease in Rats.- Part 5. Effect of Taurine on Bone.- Does Taurine Deficiency Cause Metabolic Bone Disease and Rickets in Polar Bear Cubs Raised in Captivity?.- The Preventive Effect of Fermented Milk Supplement Containing Tomato (Lycopersion Esculentum) and Taurine on Bone Loss in Ovariectomized Rats.- The Effects of Dietary Taurine Supplementation on Bone Mineral Density in Ovariectomized Rats.-Part 6. Effect of Taurine on Diabetes and Obesity.- Taurine Supplementation and Pancreatic Remodeling.- The Effects of Taurine, Taurine Homologs and Hypotaurine on Cell and Membrane Antioxidative System Alterations Caused by Type 2 Diabetes in Rat Erythrocytes.- Lau The Effects of Taurine, Hypotaurine, and Taurine Homologs on Erythrocyte Morphology, Membrane Fluidity and Cytoskeletal Spe