QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Stevens, C. Articles by Fellman, J. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Stevens, C. Articles by Fellman, J. H.

Ammonia Intoxication: A Hazard during Rehabilitation of Protein-deprived Rats¹

Department of Biology, Reed College, Portland, Oregon 97202, and The Division of Medical Genetics and Department of Biochemistry, University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Portland, Oregon 97201

The ammonia tolerance of weanling rats raised for 3 to 6 weeks on a protein-deficient diet was compared with that of a group of age-matched control animals raised from weaning on an optimal protein diet. The groups were challenged with a nitrogen load of either ammonium chloride or amino acids. The results of the loading studies indicate that severe protein deprivation increases vulnerability to ammonia poisoning. These observations suggest that ammonia-induced coma may pose a significant hazard during the initial intravenous rehabilitation of malnourished subjects, if replenishment is undertaken too vigorously.

KEY WORDS: • ammonia • protein deprivation • protein feeding • intoxication • coma

¹ Supported by Reed College and Grant MS-01572 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke.

² Thesis presented to the Reed College Biology Department in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts.

³ Requests for reprints should be sent to Dr. J. H. Fellman, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Portland, Oregon 97201.

Manuscript received 12 February 1975.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Minakami, T. Shimizu, Y. Toriire, and T. Fukuda Changes in head twitch response induced by a 5-hydroxytryptamine agonist in mice fed a low-protein diet J Psychopharmacol, January 1, 1996; 10(4): 298 - 302. [Abstract] [PDF]