title: Pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy: studies in autopsied brain tissue from hepatic coma patients.
abstract: The understanding of pathophysiologic mechanisms of several neurological and psychiatric diseases has been derived from measurement of neurochemical parameters in autopsied brain tissue. In this report, the author reviews some neuropathological studies from autopsied patients died in hepatic coma. He mentions and analyze the findings in astrocytes, brain amino acid content, amines and their metabolites, brain enzymes activities, and affinity and density of GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complex as well as muscarinic cholinergic receptor function.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurochemistry, André-Viallet Clinical Research Centre, Hôpital St-Luc (University of Montreal), Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2x 3J4.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Butterworth
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005688:Galactosamine / Q000633:toxicity; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D011817:Rabbits; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001679:Biogenic Amines; D002395:Catecholamines; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D005442:Flumazenil; D005688:Galactosamine