[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: This study was designed to determine the contribution of elevated plasma ammonia levels to blood-brain barrier (BBB) abnormalities
in the presence of intact liver. The permeability changes of the BBB were investigated grossly with Evans blue (EB) and quantitatively
by measuring the blood-to-brain transfer content for α-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) in normal rats and rats subjected to sublethal
doses of ammonium acetate (NH4OAc) (750 and 600 mg/kg ip; at 30-min intervals). Some rats were pretreated with dexamethasone (DXN). Injection of NH4OAc increased both plasma and brain ammonia concentrations about 16- and 5-fold, respectively, above the control level. In
rats receiving NH4OAc injection, the blood-to-brain transfer constant (K
i) for AIB was increased 3-to 11-fold. The elevatedK
i values were limited to certain gray matter areas and less pronounced permeability changes were detected in white matter.
Extravasation sites of EB were more restricted and were especially observed in thalamus and cerebellum, whereas cortex and
white matter were unaffected. Dexamethasone pretreatment for 3d reduced both leakage of EB and theK
i for AIB in NH4OAc injected animals, whereas acute treatment appeared ineffective. Dexamethasone did not prevent the development of coma
but slightly decreased the ammonia concentration in plasma and brain. The results obtained indicate that hyperammonemia may
disrupt BBB integrity not only to AIB and EB but also enhance the transport of other solutes.
Neurochemical Pathology 04/1993; 20(3):203-218.
