THE EXCRETION OF TAURINE-S35AND SULPHATE-S35IN ADRENALECTOMIZED RATS TREATED WITH TWO CORTICOIDS

Abstract

Taurine excretion levels of sham-operated and adrenalectomized female Sprague–Dawley rats maintained on three different commercial laboratory animal diets have been determined. No significant difference in taurine excretion was found between similarly operated animals consuming the three diets. The specific activity of taurine-S35excreted by sham-operated animals given a tracer dose of methionine-S35was significantly different from that excreted by adrenalectomized rats. The administration of 16α-methyl-9α-fluoroprednisolone to adrenalectomized rats that have been given a tracer dose of methionine-S35results in the excretion of taurine-S35having a specific activity which is not significantly different from sham-operated controls. The specific activity of sulphate-S35excreted by sham-operated and adrenalectomized rats differs significantly. Administration of 9α-fluorohydrocortisone to adrenalectomized rats restores the specific activity of the excreted sulphate-S35to normal. Administration of 16α-methyl-9α-fluoroprednisolone to adrenalectomized rats having a tracer dose of methionine-S36does not, at the dosage level employed here, influence the specific activity of the excreted sulphate. These two corticoids influence the metabolism of methionine at different points in its oxidation.