Ammonia inhibits protein secretion in isolated rat hepatocytes

The general secretion of proteins by isolated rat hepatocytes in suspension is inhibited by colchicine, anoxia, or ammonia (NH4Cl). The inhibition by ammonia is accompanied by the cytoplasmic retention and swelling of protein secretory vesicles, suggesting that ammonia accumulates in the vesicles and thereby prevents their translocation to the cell periphery. General protein synthesis appears to be relatively unaffected by ammonia.