Document Detail


An investigation of the relationship between the liver and brain using an isolated perfused rat brain preparation.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  10715601     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The pathogenesis of portal-systemic encephalopathy (PSE) and hepatic encephalopathy (HE), disorders of the brain attributed to abnormal liver function, are poorly understood. This study was conducted to examine if a fundamental, and possibly exclusive, homeostatic interrelationship exists between the liver and brain that might deteriorate during liver failure to result in the syndrome of PSE and HE. An isolated organ perfusion circuit was devised to accommodate an isolated rat brain and an isolated rat liver preparation perfused concomitantly. The survival time of the brain preparation was measured by the maintenance of the spontaneous electroencephalocorticogram and was extended from a median survival time of 35 min (range 22 to 53 min), when perfused alone, to 210 min (range 172 to 480 min), when perfused simultaneously with a liver. Also, concomitant perfusion with an isolated rat liver reduced perfusate glucose concentrations from 200 mg% to a range between 45 to 60 mg%. These data support our hypothesis that a homeostatic interrelationship exists between the liver and brain that is independent of other metabolic influences; disturbance of this relationship may contribute towards the syndrome of PSE and HE.
Authors:
B Alexander; M Aslam; I S Benjamin
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of pharmacological and toxicological methods     Volume:  42     ISSN:  1056-8719     ISO Abbreviation:  J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods     Publication Date:  1999 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2000-04-27     Completed Date:  2000-04-27     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9206091     Medline TA:  J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  31-7     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Liver Sciences Unit, Academic Department of Surgery, GKT School of Medicine & Dentistry, St Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London, United Kingdom. B.Alexander@kcl.ac.uk
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Brain / physiopathology*
Electroencephalography
Hepatic Encephalopathy / physiopathology*
Homeostasis
Liver / physiopathology*
Male
Perfusion
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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