Decreased brain concentrations of choline and acetylcholine in mice with thioacetamide-induced acute liver failure

• Published in: International hepatology communications Vol. 3; no. 4; pp. 222 - 226
• Main Authors: Iwai, Masakatsu, Suzuki, Kazuyuki, Moriai, Osamu, Kato, Akinobu, Sato, Shunichi, Murai, Shigeo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.04.1995
• Subjects: Acetylcholine; Acute liver failure; Cholinergic neurotransmitter system; Hepatic encephalopathy; Acute liver failure; Acetylcholine; Cholinergic neurotransmitter system; Hepatic encephalopathy
• ISSN: 0928-4346; 1879-1182
• DOI: 10.1016/0928-4346(94)00181-4

To investigate the alteration of the cholinergic neurotransmitter system in hepatic encephalopathy (HE), we measured the concentrations of choline (Ch) and acetylcholine (ACh) in the brain of mice with thioacetamide (TAA)-induced acute liver failure using a high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). The concentrations of Ch and ACh in TAA-treated mice decreased in most regional brain areas as compared to control mice. In particular, Ch significantly decreased in the cortex ( P < 0.05), hippocampus ( P < 0.01), hypothalamus ( P < 0.05), midbrain ( P < 0.01) and medulla oblongata ( P < 0.01). Similarly, ACh significantly decreased in the striatum ( P < 0.01), hippocampus ( P < 0.01), midbrain ( P < 0.01) and medulla oblongata ( P < 0.01). Our findings suggest that the suppression of the cholinergic neurotransmitter system may play a role in the pathogenesis of HE in acute liver failure.