Figure 1.

Blood ammonia levels. Comparison of the concentrations of basal plasma ammonia in cirrhotic groups (closed bars) and control groups (open bars). Cirrhosis plus portal vein occlusion resulted in a significant increase in basal ammonia levels. Rifaximin-treated cirrhotic rats showed plasma ammonia levels similar to those observed in controls; by contrast, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 treatment was unable to normalize these values. ^aP < 0.05 vs each control group. Cirr: Cirrhosis; Cont: Control; R: Rifaximin.