Taurine is an abundant intracellular beta-amino acid majorly synthesized in the liver and transported through plasma. In mammals, taurine was reported to be involved in various physiological functions, including the enhancement of testosterone levels, the major estradiol precursor. Therefore, we hypothesize that taurine levels are associated with ovarian follicular steroids as well as with a reproductive problem called postpartum anestrus (PPA) in dairy buffaloes. To understand the taurine levels and its possible role in buffalo ovarian follicles, a correlation was established among taurine, estradiol, and testosterone levels in the ovarian follicular fluid. For this purpose, buffalo ovaries were obtained from the slaughterhouse, and follicular fluid samples were collected from small (<4 mm), medium (4–8 mm) and large (>8 mm) follicles. Taurine and steroid levels in the follicular fluid were analyzed by TLC and ELISA, respectively. Taurine and testosterone levels were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the follicular fluid of small and medium follicles than large follicles, whereas the estradiol levels were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in the large follicles. Thus, taurine showed a positive correlation (r = 0.75) with testosterone and a negative correlation (r = −0.77) with estradiol in buffalo follicular fluid, indicating its possible role in testosterone function during follicular development. Interestingly, significantly (P < 0.001) lower plasma taurine levels in PPA (n = 50) than normal cyclic (n = 50) buffaloes represented its association with PPA. Therefore, our present study recommends the need for future nutrition studies on taurine supplementation to PPA buffaloes.

牛磺酸是一种丰富的细胞内β-氨基酸，主要在肝脏中合成并通过血浆转运。在哺乳动物中，据报道牛磺酸参与各种生理功能，包括提高睾酮水平，睾酮是主要的雌二醇前体。因此，我们假设牛磺酸水平与卵巢卵泡类固醇以及奶牛产后无情期 (PPA) 的生殖问题有关。为了了解牛磺酸水平及其在水牛卵泡中的可能作用，在卵巢卵泡液中的牛磺酸、雌二醇和睾酮水平之间建立了相关性。为此，从屠宰场获取水牛卵巢，并从小 (<4 mm)、中 (4-8 mm) 和大 (>8 mm) 卵泡中收集卵泡液样本。分别通过 TLC 和 ELISA 分析卵泡液中的牛磺酸和类固醇水平。牛磺酸和睾酮水平显着（P < 0.05）中小卵泡的卵泡液高于大卵泡，而大卵泡中的雌二醇水平显着（P < 0.001）更高。因此，牛磺酸与睾酮呈正相关（r = 0.75），与水牛卵泡液中的雌二醇呈负相关（r = -0.77），表明其在卵泡发育过程中可能对睾酮功能起作用。有趣的是，与正常循环水牛 (n = 50) 相比，PPA (n = 50) 中血浆牛磺酸水平显着 ( P < 0.001) 表示其与 PPA 相关。因此，我们目前的研究建议需要对 PPA 水牛补充牛磺酸进行未来的营养研究。