Experimental study on the cytoskeletal alteration of hepatocytes in obstructive

jaundice with special reference to the significance of the localization of the intracellular filaments

Abstract

The effects of common bile duct ligation on hepatocytes in rats were investigated by light and electron microscopicatle chniques. C ytoskeletael lementss uch as actin and cytokeratinw ere immunohistochemically increasedi n liverc ellsa fter biled uct ligation. E lectronm icroscopicaolb servationr evealedt hat bile canaliculi were rich in microvilliin the controll iver, whilei n the experimentalr ats, the bile canaliculiw ere dilated. A decreased number of microvilli and bleb formations were also noted. In the cytoplasm, pericanalicular microfilamentsa nd intermediatef ilamentsw ere abundant. These findings suggest that increased biliary pressure may affect not only the hepatocellularp lasma membranec onstituents, b ut also the filamentous structure in the hepatocyteF. urthermoret he congestedb ile acida ffectm ayb e worsea fter a commonb ile duct obstruction.