Age-Dependent Changes in Taurine, Serine, and Methionine Release in the Frontal Cortex of Awake Freely-Moving Rats: A Microdialysis Study

Brain function declines because of aging and several metabolites change their concentration. However, this decrease may be a consequence or a driver of aging. It has been described that taurine levels decrease with age and that taurine supplementation increases health span in mice and monkeys, finding taurine as a driver of aging. The frontal cortex is one of the most key areas studied to know the normal processes of cerebral aging, due to its relevant role in cognitive processes, emotion, and motivation. In the present work, we analyzed by intracerebral microdialysis in vivo in the prefrontal cortex of young (3 months) and old (24 months) awake rats, the basal- and K⁺-evoked release of taurine, and its precursors methionine and serine. The taurine/serine/methionine (TSM) ratio was also calculated as an index of transmethylation reactions. No changes were found in the basal levels of taurine, serine, or methionine between young and aged animals. On the contrary, a significant decrease in the K⁺-evoked release of serine and taurine appeared in aged rats when compared with young animals. No changes were seen in methionine. TSM ratio also decreased with age in both basal- and K⁺-stimulated conditions. Therefore, taurine and its related precursor serine decrease with age in the frontal cortex of aged animals under K⁺-stimulated but not basal conditions, which supports the importance of the decline of evoked taurine in its functions at the brain level, also supporting the idea proposed by other authors of a pharmacological and/or nutritional intervention to its restoration. A deficit of precursors for transmethylation reactions in the brain with age is also considered.