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Hepatic Encephalopathy, Hyperammonemia, and Ammonia Toxicity pp 125–134Cite as

Neomycin Reduces the Intestinal Production of Ammonia from Glutamine

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 368))

Abstract

The mechanism by which neomycin treatment reduces circulating ammonia concentrations was studied in normal and portacaval shunted rats. Rats were given neomycin for 3 days and then fasted for 24 hours to eliminate feces. Neomycin decreased arteriovenous differences of ammonia across the intestine even when the intestines were empty. Neomycin treatment lowered the activity of glutaminase in the intestinal mucosa and the rate of ammonia production from glutamine by isolated intestinal segments. The intestines from portacaval shunted rats had higher glutaminase activity (by 57%), and produced ammonia from glutamine at a greater rate (by 31%), than intestines from controls. Neomycin treatment lowered glutaminase activity and ammonia production in shunted rats, but glutaminase activity still remained higher than in controls (by 23%). The data indicate that the mechanism by which neomycin lowers plasma ammonia is owing, at least in part, to a direct effect on the intestines. Specifically, neomycin causes a reduction in mucosal glutaminase activity and thereby decreases the ability of the mucosa to consume glutamine and produce ammonia.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Finch University of Health Sciences/ The Chicago Medical School, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA

    Richard A. Hawkins, John Jessy, Anke M. Mans & Mary R. DeJoseph

  2. Department of Pathology, Finch University of Health Sciences/ The Chicago Medical School, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA

    Antonio Chedid

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  1. Richard A. Hawkins
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  2. John Jessy
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  3. Anke M. Mans
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  4. Antonio Chedid
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  5. Mary R. DeJoseph
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigaciones Citologicas de la F. I. B., Valencia, Spain

    Vicente Felipo  & Santiago Grisolia  & 

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© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Hawkins, R.A., Jessy, J., Mans, A.M., Chedid, A., DeJoseph, M.R. (1994). Neomycin Reduces the Intestinal Production of Ammonia from Glutamine. In: Felipo, V., Grisolia, S. (eds) Hepatic Encephalopathy, Hyperammonemia, and Ammonia Toxicity. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 368. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1989-8_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1989-8_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5820-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-1989-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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