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Male Wistar

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As previously stated, hyperammonemia is metabolic condition that expresses symptoms of high levels of ammonia within the blood stream. As a result, there are increased levels of nitrogen, which are toxic for the patient’s brain (1). However, nitrogen can be removed from the body by a less toxic substance known as urea. Urea plays a significant role in nitrogen metabolism. The target enzyme for treatment for people with hyperammonemia will be from the urea cycle. The urea cycle occurs partially in the mitochondria and mostly in the cytosol. Enzymes are substances that play a role as a catalyst in order to induce a specific reaction. The enzyme we have chosen is carbamoyl-phosphate synthase 1. This enzyme is a mitochondrial enzyme …show more content…

Male Wistar rats between 120 and 140 kg will be fed an ammonium acetate rich diet to induce them with hyperammonemia for a 5-week period. Thirty Wistar rats will undergo surgery to implant portacaval shunts. This model was created to develop a system that has a pure hyperammonemic state that is commonly found in individuals with chronic liver disease. Four groups of 10 Wistar rats, split into 2 control groups and 2 experimental groups. The four designated groups will be: the normal fed control group, the control + PMO group, the portacaval shunted group (ammonia group), and the portacaval shunted Wistar rats + PMO groups. Portacaval shunts will be performed, in order to induce alterations in nitrogen metabolism caused by changing the function of the liver. The control + PMO group and portacaval shunted Wistar rats + PMO group will be given 60 mg/L of PMO in their drinking water everyday at the same time until their deaths. In order to ensure all water will be consumed, all Wistar rats will be provided with only 10 ml of water. The Wistar rats in the control groups will be given tap water on the same drinking schedule as the two experimental groups. After 5 days of treating each experimental group, the Wistar rats willingness to explore brain function was assessed using a Y-Maze learning test everyday for 10 trials. Additionally, ammonium

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