Brain protein synthesis in rats with portacaval shunts.

Effects of portacaval shunts on the brain protein synthesis were studied in rats 7, 10 and 13 weeks after the surgery. We evaluated the incorporation of [3H]-glycine with the usage of liquid scintillation. In comparison to the controls, the labelled amino acid was incorporated less effectively in all the examined brain regions throughout the experimental period. The lowest values were observed 10 weeks after the portacaval shunt and the drop was most distinct in the cerebellum (47%). The least profound changes occurred within 7 weeks after the surgery and the results were statistically significant only in the frontal cortex and the brain stem. Thirteen weeks after the shunting the incorporation of [3H]-glycine was moderately decreased (the drop ranged between 12% and 18%) but all the differences were statistically significant. It seems that the inhibition of the brain protein synthesis may contribute to the pathogenesis of the portal-systemic encephalopathy.