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Science 23 June 1978:
Vol. 200. no. 4348, pp. 1395 - 1397
DOI: 10.1126/science.663619
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Articles

Science, Vol 200, Issue 4348, 1395-1397
Copyright © 1978 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Blood-brain neutral amino acid transport activity is increased after portacaval anastomosis

JH James, J Escourrou, and JE Fischer

In rats after portacaval anastomosis (an animal model of chronic liver disease), transport of tryptophan and other members of the large neutral amino acid group from blood to brain was markedly enhanced. Increased transport activity was apparently restricted to the neutral amino acid transport system, since brain uptake of glucose, inulin, and tyramine was unaffected while blood-brain arginine transport was significantly reduced. These results strikingly confirm the hypothesis that carrier-mediated blood-brain transport is the limiting factor determining the availability of the neutral amino acids to the brain. The encephalopathy associated with cirrhosis may be the result of abnormal neurotransmitter metabolism and neurotransmission secondary to increased neutral amino acid transport activity and an increased brain content of members of the neutral amino acid group.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
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1996 Jonathan E. Rhoads Lecture. Mechanism, Mechanism, Mechanism.
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Branched-Chain-Enriched Amino Acid Solutions in Patients with Liver Failure: An Early Example of Nutritional Pharmacology.
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Septic Encephalopathy: Evidence for Altered Phenylalanine Metabolism and Comparison With Hepatic Encephalopathy.
B. A. Mizock, H. C. Sabelli, A. Dubin, J. I. Javaid, A. Poulos, and E. C. Rackow (1990)
Arch Intern Med 150, 443-449
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Serotonin Metabolism in the Central Nervous System in Portacaval Shunted Rats Infused with Fat Emulsion.
F. Bengtsson, M. Bugge, P. Herlin, A. Nobin, and B. Jeppsson (1989)
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Blood-Brain Barrier: Interface Between Internal Medicine and the Brain.
W. M. PARDRIDGE, W. H. OLDENDORF, P. CANCILLA, and H. J. L. FRANK (1986)
Ann Intern Med 105, 82-95
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Clinical Use of Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Liver Disease, Sepsis, Trauma, and Burns.
H. C. Sax, M. A. Talamini, and J. E. Fischer (1986)
Arch Surg 121, 358-366
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Regional Brain Amino Acid and Neurotransmitter Derangements During Abdominal Sepsis and Septic Encephalopathy in the Rat: The Effect of Amino Acid Infusions.
H. R. Freund, M. Muggia-Sullam, R. LaFrance, J. Holroyde, and J. E. Fischer (1986)
Arch Surg 121, 209-216
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MATERIALS AND METHODS.
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Arch Surg 120, 1291-1295
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Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Sepsis and Hepatic Failure.
B. A. Mizock (1985)
Arch Intern Med 145, 1284-1288
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The Physiologic and Nutritional Significance of Plasma-free Amino Acid Levels.
N. N. Abumrad and B. Miller (1983)
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 7, 163-170
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Chronic Hepatic Encephalopathy: Long-term Therapy With a Branched-Chain Amino-Acid-Enriched Elemental Diet.
H. Freund, N. Yoshimura, and J. E. Fischer (1979)
JAMA 242, 347-349
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