Taurine and epilepsy

Abstract

Dysfunction of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters or neuromodulators is thought to underlie epileptic symptoms. Taurine, 2-aminoethanesulfonate, is a ubiquitous free amino acid abounding in the brain of humans and most animal species. It hyperpolarizes neurons and inhibits their firing. It may be a participating factor in certain subpopulations of epilepsy patients but its deficiency is not a universal prerequisite for seizures. Here, the participation of taurine in animal seizure models and human epilepsy patients is reviewed.