Effects of fulminant hepatic encephalopathy on the adult rat brain antioxidant status and the activities of acetylcholinesterase, (Na⁺,K⁺)- and Mg²⁺-ATPase: comparison of the enzymes’ response to in vitro treatment with ammonia

Hepatic encephalopathy can be a life-threatening complication of fulminant hepatic failure. By understanding the pathophysiology involved in the induction of this neuropsychiatric disorder, future therapeutic and/or preventive attempts could be considered. In this study, an attempt has been made in order to shed more light on the mechanisms involved in the effects of thioacetamide (TAA)-induced fulminant hepatic encephalopathy on: (a) the adult rat brain total antioxidant status (TAS) and (b) the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), (Na⁺,K⁺)-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase. Moreover, in vitro experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the possible role of ammonia (incubated as NH₄Cl, in a toxic concentration of 3mM) in the observed effects of TAA-induced fulminant hepatic encephalopathy on the examined adult rat brain enzyme activities. Fulminant hepatic encephalopathy caused a significant decrease in TAS (−22%, p < 0.001) and the activity of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase (−26%, p < 0.001), but had non-significant effects on the whole brain AChE and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities. The in vitro experiments (conducted through a 3h incubation with ammonia), showed no significant alterations in any of the examined parameters. Our in vitro and in vivo findings suggest that alterations in AChE and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities are not involved in the pathophysiology of the adult-onset fulminant hepatic encephalopathy, while the observed Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase inhibition could be a result of the oxidative stress, neurotransmission deregulation, and/or of the presence of other toxic substances (that appear to act as direct or indirect inhibitors of the enzyme) and not due to the excess accumulation of ammonia in the brain.