Illustration of liver cells with mitochondrium (enlarged). Inside the liver cells there is protein degradation and ammonia is produced as a byproduct. Ammonia is highly toxic and has to be neutralized by the body through the urea cycle. This process takes place inside the mitochondria (the cell power plants) of the liver.
Decreased liver funtion or increased ammonia-production can lead to NH3-molecule deposits which poison the liver up to liver failure.
Ammonia-intoxications are treated with amino acids.
