ISSN:
1573-6903
Keywords:
Ammonia
;
brain edema
;
hepatic encephalopathy
;
hepatic failure
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The effect of ammonia on water space of astrocytes in culture was determined as a means of studying the neurotoxicity of ammonia in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). Treatment of primary astrocyte cultures obtained from neonatal rat cortices with 10 mM NH4Cl for 4 days resulted in a 29% increase in astrocytic water space, as measured by an isotopic method utilizing 3-O-methyl-[3H]-glucose. this effect was time- and dose-dependent. The ammonia-induced swelling was reversible as the water space in cultures treated with 10 mH NH4Cl for 3 days, and then returned to normal culture media for 1 day, was similar to control cultures. These findings suggest that elevated levels of ammonia lead to astrocyte swelling and may contribute to the brain edema in FHF.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00965694
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