A thioacetamide-induced hepatic encephalopathy model in C57BL/6 mice: a behavioral and neurochemical study

• Autor(a) principal: Miranda,Aline Silva de
• Data de Publicação: 2010
• Outros Autores: Rodrigues,David Henrique, Vieira,Luciene Bruno, Lima,Cristiano Xavier, Rachid,Milene Alvarenga, Vidigal,Paula Vieira Teixeira, Gomez,Marcus Vinicius, Reis,Helton José dos, Guatimosim,Cristina, Teixeira,Antônio Lúcio
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2010000400022
• topic: hepatic encephalopathy; thioacetamide; behavioral changes; SHIRPA; glutamate

OBJECTIVE: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric syndrome resulting from liver failure. In the present study, we aimed to standardize an animal model of HE induced by thioacetamide (TAA) in C57BL/6 mice evaluating behavioral symptoms in association with liver damage and alterations in neurotransmitter release. METHOD: HE was induced by an intraperitoneal single dose of TAA (200 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg or 1,200 mg/kg). Behavioral symptoms were evaluated using the SHIRPA battery. Liver damage was confirmed by histopathological analysis. The glutamate release was measured using fluorimetric assay. RESULTS: The neuropsychiatric state, motor behavior and reflex and sensory functions were significantly altered in the group receiving 600 mg/kg of TAA. Biochemical analysis revealed an increase in the glutamate release in the cerebral cortex of HE mice. CONCLUSION: HE induced by 600mg/kg TAA injection in C57BL/6 mice seems to be a suitable model to investigate the pathogenesis and clinical disorders of HE.