Morphometric Studies on the Rat Liver in Biliary Obstruction

Abstract

Ligation and section of the common bile duct in the Wistar rat was made. Liver biopsies were done weekly for 7 weeks. Light and electron microscopical specimens were prepared for the morphometric studies.
The volume ratio of the hepatic parenchyma declined proportionally to the duration after bile duct ligation, however, such findings as presence of dividing cells, increase in the mean sectional area of the nucleus and unchanged estimated weight of the hepatic parenchyma throughout the biliary obstruction suggest that decreased hepatocytes were covered by their regeneration.
Mitochondrial swelling and curling of the cristae was noted in biliary obstruction in general. Moreover, both the number and volume ratio of the mitochondria were increased corresponding to the duration. These changes may be adaptive phenomena for their dysfunction.
Dilation and hyperplasia of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum was observed in most of the rat livers in biliary obstruction.
Number of the lysosomes was increased as the duration prolonged, however, declined after 6 weeks.