Evaluation of taurine metabolism in cats by dual stable isotope analysis.

ABSTRACT

Taurine kinetics in cats was investigated using a bolus dose of [15N]- and [1,2-13C2]taurine. The comparison of [15N]- and [13C2]taurine kinetics permitted an evaluation of the extent of taurine transamination. A methodology which involves N-pentafluorobenzoyl di-n-butylamine derivatization of taurine and GC/MS measurements of the 15N- and 13C-enrichments in cat urine was developed. Accuracy of the measurements was determined using pure standard compounds and the results showed that [13C2]taurine does not interfere with [15N]taurine. In cats, no differences were observed between both tracers. Therefore, we conclude that taurine reversible transamination does not occur at a significant level in cats.