Alterations of brain glycosaminoglycans in hepatic encephalopathy in rats with thioacetamide-induced hepatic failure / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

Changes of glycosaminoglycans in cerebrum, brainstem and cerebellum were measured in rats with hepatic encephalopathy induced by thioacetamide. It was foundthat the contents of glycosaminoglycans in brainstem and cerebrum were lowered markedlythan that of the normal control, but no significant difference of glycosaminoglycans werefound in cerebellum. The results suggested that the metabolism of glycosaminoglycans incerebrum and brainstem was disturbed when hepatic encephalopathy occured, and thatthe pathogenic mechanism of hepatic encephalopathy was related to the alterations of gly-cosaminoglycans in brain as a result of hepatic insufficiency.