title: Chronic inhibition of brain protein synthesis after portacaval shunting. A possible pathogenic mechanism in chronic hepatic encephalopathy in the rat.
abstract: We investigated the effects of chronic portacaval shunting, with or without additional ammonia loading, on brain protein synthesis in unanesthetized rats by continuous intravenous infusion of 3H-lysine (10 mumoles per gram, 0.2 muCi/mumole). Lysine was incorporated into forebrain proteins at a rate of 1.6 nanomoles/mg protein per hour in sham-operated controls, but at a rate of only 0.83 nanomoles/mg protein per hour (p less than 0.001) in paired rats 6 to 8 weeks after construction of a portacaval shunt. An acute load of ammonium acetate in portacaval-shunted animals further decreased the rate of lysine incorporation into forebrain proteins. Chronic inhibition of protein synthesis may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic portacaval encephalopathy.
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000641:Ammonia; D008239:Lysine