Enzymes of Ammonia Detoxication after Portacaval Shunt in the Rat

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Abstract
Besides the synthesis of urea, NH3 detoxication at high concentrations can be effected through enzyme reactions involved in glutamic acid metabolism. These mechanisms are also operative in extrahepatic tissues. Hyperammonemia is found in the animal model of the portacaval shunt (PCS) rat. This model was chosen to study activities of glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamine synthetase and glutaminase I in liver, brain and kidney 10, 20 and 30 days after PCS. In brain and kidney NH3 is detoxified mainly by the glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamine synthetase reactions, whereas in the liver these enzyme reactions play a minor role.