Ammonia intoxication: a hazard during rehabilitation of protein-deprived rats.
The ammonia tolerance of weanling rats raised for 3 to 6 weeks on a protein-deficient diet was compared with that of a group of age-matched control animals raised from weaning on an optimal protein diet. The groups were challenged with a nitrogen load of either ammonium chloride or amino acids. The results of the loading studies indicate that severe protein deprivation increases vulnerability to ammonia poisoning. These observations suggest that ammonia-induced coma may pose a significant hazard during the initial intravenous rehabilitation of malnourished subjects, if replenishment is undertaken too vigorously.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000506:poisoning*; D000643:Ammonium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D003128:Coma / Q000139:chemically induced; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007768:Lactalbumin; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D011041:Poisoning / Q000209:etiology; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000178:diet therapy; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
D000596:Amino Acids; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D000643:Ammonium Chloride; D000641:Ammonia; D007768:Lactalbumin