The Effect of Acute Ammonia Intoxication upon the Brain Energy State in Rats Pretreated with L-Methionine D-L-Sulphoximine

Abstract

The effects of ammonium acetate upon the brain energy state in MSO-pretreated animals were evaluated in lightly anesthetized normocapnic rats. Ammonia intoxication was associated with increased lactate contents, raised lactate/pyruvate ratios. With high ammonia contents inconsistent changes in the energy state occurred in both supratentorial and infratentorial structures, indicating a labile energy homeostasis. It was concluded that inhibition of glutamine synthetase is of minor importance for maintaining energy balance and probably could not account for the protective effect of MSO against acute ammonia intoxication.

Key Words:

• α-Ketoglutarate
• ammonia
• energy state
• MSO