title: Neurotoxicity of Ammonia.
abstract: Abnormal liver function has dramatic effects on brain functions. Hyperammonemia interferes profoundly with brain metabolism, astrocyte volume regulation, and in particular mitochondrial functions. Gene expression in the brain and excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission circuits are also affected. Experiments with a number of pertinent animal models have revealed several potential mechanisms which could underlie the pathological phenomena occurring in hepatic encephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, 33014, University of Tampere, Finland. simo.oja@uta.fi.
authors.forename: Simo S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Oja
authors.affiliation: Medical School, 33014, University of Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Pirjo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saransaari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Esa R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Korpi
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D048429:Cell Size; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D000641:Ammonia
keywords: Astrocytes; Glutamine-glutamate cycle; Hepatic encephalopathy; Mitochondria; N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors; Reactive oxygen species