Abstract
This study was carried out to elucidate the mechanism of an autophagy of peroxisomes seen in hepatic parenchymal cells in the CPIB-treated rat liver followed by partial hepatectomy or by glucagon administration. The catalase activity demonstrated cytochemically by the diaminobenzidine reaction was used as a marker for peroxisomes and the acid phosphatase activity demonstrated by the lead method for lysosomes.
The large size and number of peroxisomes induced by the CPIB administration in the rat hepatic parenchymal cell showed a gradual decrease in number after partial hepatectomy with concomitant increase in the number of lysosomes of various sizes including autophagolysosomes. Autophagoly-sosome formation involving peroxisomes was also evident in the hepatic parenchymal cells in the CPIB-treated and glucagon-administered rat liver. Furthermore, participation of the lysosomal wrapping mechanism in autophagocytosis of peroxisomes was frequently observed.
It was concluded in the present investigation that the lysosome participates in the catabolism of peroxisomes observed in the CPIB-treated rat liver followed by partial hepatectomy or glucagon administration.
