Ethanol-induced alterations in rat hepatic ammonia metabolism

Alterations in the structure and physiology of experimental alcoholic liver injury have been the subject of many studies. Nevertheless, questions on other toxic effects during ethanol metabolism remain to be answered. The scope for the formation of other toxic agents during ethanol injection cannot be ruled out and more so, recent reports indicate, without definite conclusions, the interference of ammonia causing neurotoxicity, especially in severe alcoholic liver damage besides alterations in hepatic amino acid and protein metabolism. Hence in the present study the authors report some of the changes in the metabolic profiles of ammonia as a consequence of repeated loading of high doses of ethanol. This sort of study may help in understanding the chronic damage inflicted on the liver and the possible interplay of synergistic toxic agents like ammonia during ethanol ingestion.