Hyperammonemia, brain edema and blood-brain barrier alterations in prehepatic portal hypertensive rats and paracetamol intoxication

Figure 1 Significantly increased ammonia plasma levels in all groups of rats ^aP<0. 05 and ^bP<0.01 when compared with sham group.

Figure 2 Liver Microscopy. A: Shows a normal liver histology corresponding to a rat in sham group (HE, 100 ×); B: Minimal focal necrosis in group II (HE, asterisk, 500 ×); C: Diffuse hem-orrhagic necrosis in group III (HE, arrows, 400 ×); D: Focal hem-orrhagic confluent necrosis in group IV (HE, asterisk, 400 ×).

Figure 3 Significantly increased brain water content in groups III and IV ^dP < 0. 01, ^bP < 0.001 when compared with sham group.

Figure 4 Trypan blue and BBB. A: Trypan blue dye in hippocam-pus of a sham rat. No breakdown of BBB was observed. Trypan blue was only positive in vascular space (100 ×); B: Trypan blue dye diffusion due to the breakdown of BBB as an example of what was observed in hippocampus in groups II, III and IV (100 ×).