Activation of AMP deaminase and adenosine deaminase in the liver during ammonia poisoning and hepatitis.

We studied the effect of acute ammonia poisoning and CCl4-induced subacute hepatitis on activities of AMP deaminase and adenosine deaminase in rat liver. Both models of liver failure were accompanied by an increase in activities of AMP deaminase and adenosine deaminase in the cytoplasmic fraction of the liver (by 2.4-4.2 times compared to the control). A direct correlation was found between activities of AMP deaminase and adenosine deaminase. We believe that two parallel pathways of AMP degradation are activated simultaneously, which leads to rapid depletion of adenylate reserves under pathological conditions.