Effect of ammonia on cyclic AMP production in primary astrocyte cultures

Exposure of primary astrocyte cultures to ammonia caused a dose- and time-dependent reduction of isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP (cAMP) production. This treatment did not affect basal cAMP levels. This defect in receptor-linked cAMP production may contribute to the pathogenesis of hepatic and ammonia encephalopathies.