The transport form of ammonia in the blood

I believe that everyone who has studied chemistry and biology knows what ammonia is. Ammonia is a chemical element, and for people, the concentration of ammonia in the human body cannot be too high. Because ammonia is a toxic gas. Ammonia is transported through the blood, mainly in the form of alanine and other transport methods. The following mainly introduces the irritation and harm of ammonia to the human body, as well as some common ammonia poisoning.

Ammonia is transported in the body mainly in two forms: alanine and glutamine.

1. Ammonia is a strong irritant.

Ammonia poisoning mainly inhibits the central nervous system by inhaling high concentrations of ammonia. Under normal circumstances, the central nervous system can inhibit lower peripheral centers. When the central nervous system is inhibited, its inhibitory effect on lower peripheral centers is weakened or even disappears, thereby exciting lower peripheral centers. Causes convulsions, seizures, drowsiness, and coma. Inhalation of extremely high concentrations of ammonia can reflexively cause cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest.

2. Ammonia is an alkaline substance, and ammonia water has extremely strong corrosive effects.

Alkali burns are more serious than acidic burns because alkaline substances have strong penetrating power. Ammonia burns on the skin are deep, prone to infection, and difficult to heal, similar to second-degree burns.

3. When ammonia gas is inhaled into the respiratory tract, it comes into contact with water to form ammonia water.

Ammonia can penetrate the mucosa and alveolar epithelium and invade the submucosal, pulmonary interstitial and capillary areas, causing:

(1) Vocal cord spasm, laryngeal edema, and tissue necrosis. The shedding of necrotic material can cause suffocation. Damaged mucosa is prone to secondary infection.

(2) Tracheal and bronchial mucosal damage, edema, bleeding, spasm, etc. Affects the ventilation function of the bronchi.

(3) Alveolar epithelial cells, pulmonary interstitium, and pulmonary capillary endothelial cells are damaged, permeability is enhanced, and pulmonary interstitial edema occurs. Ammonia stimulates the sympathetic nerves, causing spasm of the common lymphatic ducts, obstruction of lymphatic return, and increase in pulmonary capillary pressure. Ammonia destroys alveolar surfactant. The above effects ultimately lead to pulmonary edema.

(4) Mucosal edema, increased inflammatory secretion, pulmonary edema, decreased alveolar surfactant, tracheal and bronchial stenosis, and other factors seriously affect the ventilation and gas exchange function of the lungs.