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2000
Volume 12, Issue 4
  • ISSN: 1570-159X
  • E-ISSN: 1875-6190

Abstract

Liver failure can lead to generalized hyperammonemia, which is thought to be the underlying cause of hepatic encephalopathy. This neuropsychiatric syndrome is accompanied by functional changes of astrocytes. These glial cells enter ammonia-induced self-amplifying cycle characterized by brain oedema, oxidative and osmotic stress that causes modification of proteins and RNA. Consequently, protein expression and function are affected, including that of glutamine synthetase and plasmalemmal glutamate transporters, leading to glutamate excitotoxicity; Ca2+-dependent exocytotic glutamate release from astrocytes contributes to this extracellular glutamate overload.

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/content/journals/cn/10.2174/1570159X12666140903094700
2014-07-01
2025-07-15
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  • Article Type:
    Research Article
Keyword(s): Astrocytes; exocytosis; glutamate release; hepatic encephalopathy
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