Brain-to-blood efflux transport of taurine at the blood-brain barrier in rats

The purpose of this study is to examine whether an brain to blood efflux system for taurine is present on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) or not and this efflux transport system is regulated by CNS cell damage with oxidative stress agent such as diethyl maleate (DEM) or tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-${\alpha}$), by using the brain efflux index (BEI) method. The brain efflux index value is defined as the relative amount of test compound efflux from cerebrum compared with that of a reference compound, [$\^$14/C] carboxyinulin, which has limited BBB permeability. (omitted)