A Rapid Determination of Taurine in Human Plasma by LC

Abstract

Taurine is an amino acid which is not incorporated into proteins but found in the cytosol of many mammalian cells, in high concentrations (2-30 mM). Increase in plasma taurine concentration has already been reported after surgical trauma, X-radiation, muscle necrosis, carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage, and paracetamol overdose. Plasma taurine concentration was measured using LC with fluorescence detection following derivatization by o-phtalaldehyde plus 3-mercapto-propionic acid and alpha-aminobutyric acid as internal standard. Under these conditions the retention time of taurine was 10 min. This method was sensitive enough, to quantify 150 pg mL(-1) and detect 50 pg mL(-1) of taurine ranging normally between 65 and 179 mmol L(-1) (8-22 mu g mL(-1)). The validated method allowed simple determination of human plasma taurine in pharmacokinetic and biomarker studies.