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Ammonia-induced astrocyte swelling in primary culture

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Abstract

The effect of ammonia on water space of astrocytes in culture was determined as a means of studying the neurotoxicity of ammonia in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). Treatment of primary astrocyte cultures obtained from neonatal rat cortices with 10 mM NH4Cl for 4 days resulted in a 29% increase in astrocytic water space, as measured by an isotopic method utilizing 3-O-methyl-[3H]-glucose. this effect was time- and dose-dependent. The ammonia-induced swelling was reversible as the water space in cultures treated with 10 mH NH4Cl for 3 days, and then returned to normal culture media for 1 day, was similar to control cultures. These findings suggest that elevated levels of ammonia lead to astrocyte swelling and may contribute to the brain edema in FHF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Neuropathology, Veterans Administration Medical center, 33101, Miami, FL

    M. D. Norenberg, L. Baker, L-O. B. Norenberg & J. T. Neary

  2. University of Miami School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital, 33101, Miami, FL

    M. D. Norenberg, L-O. B. Norenberg, J. Blicharska, J. H. Bruce-Gregorios & J. T. Neary

Authors
  1. M. D. Norenberg
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  2. L. Baker
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  3. L-O. B. Norenberg
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  4. J. Blicharska
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  5. J. H. Bruce-Gregorios
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  6. J. T. Neary
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Special issue dedicated to Dr. Santiago Grisolia

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Norenberg, M.D., Baker, L., Norenberg, LO.B. et al. Ammonia-induced astrocyte swelling in primary culture. Neurochem Res 16, 833–836 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00965694

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