Cerebral RNA synthesis in experimental hepatogenic encephalopathy.

Cerebral slices from rats subjected either to chronic (2- to 6-month) administration of carbon tetrachloride or to prolonged (21-day) portocaval shunting showed an increased above control ability to incorporate (3H]uridine in vitro into the RNA of the large cell nuclei, mostly derived from astrocytes but not the small oligodendroglial cell nuclei. This result is interpreted to indicate that brain reacts to extended periods of hepatogenic insult or chronic omission of hepatic circulation with a stimulation of RNA synthesis in the astrocytes. The possible relation of this phenomenon to the characteristic astrocytes response accompanying hepatogenic encephalopathy is discussed.