Increased urinary taurine levels were observed in dogs that had a chronic lymphopenia for 2 1/2 to 3 years after inhaling <tex-math>${}^{239}{\rm PuO}_{2}$</tex-math> aerosols. A correlation between the onset of lymphopenia and increased taurine excretion was also noted in dogs within three months after inhaling <tex-math>${}^{239}{\rm PuO}_{2}$</tex-math>. Humans undergoing extracorporeal irradiation for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia demonstrated an increased urinary taurine level which correlated well with the reduction in the number of circulating lymphocytes. These data lend support to the hypothesis that the increased taurine excretion following chronic partial body irradiation originates from the destruction of circulating lymphocytes.

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Copyright 1972 Academic Press, Inc.
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