Abstract
Liver biopsy specimens taken from patients with Gilbert's disease, Dubin-Johnson syndrome and Rotor's hyperbilirubinemia were examined under electron microscopy and their fine structural changes were analysed by morphometric method.
In Gilbert's disease, hepatocytic microvilli facing Disse's space were significantly decreased in number and fiber formation was observed in Disse's space. Vesicular smooth surfaced endoplasmic reticulum was considerably increased whereas rough one was decreased.
In Dubin-Johnson syndrome, the bile canaliculus was dilated with stunt of its microvilli and ring-formed electron dense particles were seen in about a half of studied bile canaliculi. Characteristic granules, observed in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes were morphologically different from lipofuscin granules.
In Rotor's hyperbilirubinemia, hepatocytic microvilli were decreased in number and fiber formation was observed in Disse's space. Giant mitochondria with inclusion body in the matrix were frequently seen in comparison with other two diseases.
From above described findings, the mechanism of jaundice in those diseases was discussed.
