Liver sinusoidal cell ultrastructure in partially hepatectomized rats

Abstract

Two-thirds of the liver was removed from male Wistar rats weighing 160–200 g. In response to the operation phasic changes occurred in the structure of the lysosomal apparatus in the Kupffer cells. The number of primary lysosomes in the Kupffer cells was increased 2.5 h after partial hepatectomy, and the size and polymorphism of the lysosomes were increased after 9 h. At the peak of mitotic activity of the hepatocytes (30 h after partial hepatectomy) mainly secondary lysosomes were identified in the Kupffer cells, but 48 h after the operation, on the other hand, their number was reduced, although “young” forms of primary lysosomes appeared. Manifestations of fatty infiltration predominated in the endothelial cells and reached a maximum at the peak of mitosis of the hepatocytes. The results are evidence that ultrastructural changes in the sinusoidal cells depend on the phases of reparative regeneration of the liver.