EFFECT OF HYPERAMMONEMIA ON BRAIN AMINO-ACIDS IN YOUNG AND ADULT FERRETS

Effects of arginine deficiency and hyperammonemia on the brain concent rations of amino acids and urea cycle enzyme activities in young and a dult ferrets were investigated. Only young ferrets developed hyperammo nemia and encephalopathy immediately after consuming the arginine-free diet. Brain ornithine and citrulline concentrations in young ferrets fed arginine containing diet were significantly lower than those in ad ult ferrets. Compared to rats and other animals, young and adult ferre ts had lower concentrations of brain glutamic acid and glutamine. Unli ke in other species, brain glutamine was not elevated in young, hypera mmonemic ferrets. Brain arginase and glutamate dehydrogenase activitie s were significantly increased in young ferrets fed arginine-free diet . Young ferrets provide a useful animal model for investigating the ne urotoxicity of acute hyperammonemia.