# REYE'S SYNDROME  METABOLIC VIROLOGIC STUDY

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 1987 · $107,043

## Abstract

Ferrets are uniquely susceptible to human influenza infections and when
they are exposed to an arginine-free diet, hyperammonemia and
encephalopathy develops.  We developed an animal model for Reye's syndrome
(RS) in young, male ferrets by infecting them with influenza B virus,
treating with aspirin and feeding a small amount of arginine-free diet.  We
plan to continue our study of the ferret model to extend the knowledge of
the pathogenesis of Reye's syndrome and to improve the diagnosis, treatment
and prevention of this disorder.  Our study is also designed to gain new
information on the dietary, metabolic and ultrastructural features of
young, adult ferrets.  We plan to (1) study the role of ammonia in RS.  We
plan to induce hyperammonemia in young ferrets by different means and study
the interactions of influenza virus with aspirin and increased serum
ammonia in producing RS-like disorder in ferrets; (2) investigate vomiting
as a precipitating factor in the developmet of RS; (3) identify a possible
causal relationsiip between aspirin ingestion and the development of
RS-like features in ferrets.  We also plan to test whether influenza virus
or ammonia or both either blocks or alters the metabolism and
pharmacokinetics of salicylates; (4) study the nature and cause of
mitochondrial injury in RS; (5) We propose that all mitochondrial enzymes
that are known to decrease in the liver of RS patients may appear in
blood.  To test this hypothesis we plan to assay several mitochondrial
enzymes in the serum or plasma of RS patients during the course of illness
and study the correlation of enzyme activities with serum ammonia levels
and also with the stages of disorder (severity of sickness).  We also plan
to test other hypotheses to explain the decrease in liver motochondrial
enzymes in RS; (6) test possible alterations of polyamine metabolism in
RS.  We plan to measure polyamines in the serum and urine of RS patients
and test whether such determinations would be useful as an additional
diagnostic criteria for RS; (7) test the role of L-carnitine as a
therapeutic agent in RS; (8) study virologic and immunologic features of
the ferret model; (9) measure additional parameters in the ferret model to
provide a complete comparison of the model with RS and to further
characterize the disorder in animals; (10) test compounds that may decrease
blood ammonia levels and intracranial pressure; (11) use the ferret model
to guide studies designed to improve the diagnosis, treatment and
prevention of RS.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3129754
- **Project number:** 5R01AI020236-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **SAM.gov UEI:** GNJ7BBP73WE9
- **Principal Investigator:** DEVENDRA R DESHMUKH
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $107,043
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-07-01 → 1989-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3129754

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3129754, REYE'S SYNDROME  METABOLIC VIROLOGIC STUDY (5R01AI020236-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3129754. Licensed CC0.

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