Summary
A morphologic and histochemical study was carried out on the liver of larval and adult lampreys at the optical and electron microscopic level.
In the larva the liver is composed of blind ending single cell thick tubules of hepatocytes. The tubular lumina provided with microvilli are morphologically comparable with the canalicular lumens of the higher species of animals. The cytoplasm of the hepatocytes contains numerous inclusions with heterogeneous appearance and crystalline material. The biliary system is composed of numerous bile ductules and ducts.
In the adult lamprey, the biliary system has disappeared. The hepatocytes loose their tubular arrangement and the characteristic differentiation of their biliary pole. In contrast to previous reports in the literature the presence of bile pigment in the adult lamprey liver could not be demonstrated with any histochemical technique.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barone, G., Carozza, G., Inferrera, C.: Bile morphology in cholestasis. Acta hepato-splenol. (Stuttg.) 15, 389–399 (1968).
Bertolini, B.: The structure of the liver cells during the life cycle of a brook-lamprey (Lampetra zanandreai). Z. Zellforsch. 67, 297–318 (1965).
Biava, C.: Studies on cholestasis. The fine structure and morphogenesis of hepatocellular and canalicular bile pigment. Lab. Invest. 13, 1099–1123 (1964).
Desmet, V.: Experimentele levercarcinogenese. Histochemische studie. Brussel: Arscia Uitgaven N. V., 1963.
Desmet, V. J., Bullens, A. M., De Groote, J., Heirwegh, K. P. M.: A new diazo reagent for specific staining of conjugated bilirubin in tissue sections. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 16, 419–427 (1968).
Elias, H., Bengelsdorf, H.: The structure of the liver of vertebrates. Acta anat. (Basel) 14, 297–337 (1952).
Fonfaine, M.: Classe des cyclostomes: Formes actuelles. In: Traité de Zoologie — Agnathes et Poissons (Grassé, P. P.), tome XIII, Paris: Masson & Cie. p. 13–172 1958
Gomori, G.: Microtechnical demonstration of phosphatase in tissue sections. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N. Y.) 42, 23–26 (1939).
Gomori, G.: Distribution of acid phosphatase in the tissues under normal and pathologic conditions. Arch. Path. 32, 189–192 (1941).
Hall, M. J.: A staining reaction for bilirubin in sections of tissue. Amer. J. clin. Path. 34, 313–316 (1960).
Krstulovic, B., Van Damme, B., Desmet V: Comparative histochemical study of rat liver in bile duct ligation and in alpha-naphthyl isothiocyanate (ANIT) intoxication. Amer. J. Path. 52, 423–436 (1968).
Lillie, R. D.: Various oil-soluble dyes as fat stains in the supersaturated iso-propanol technic. Stain Technol. 19, 55–58 (1944).
Luft, J.: Improvements in epoxy resin embedding methods. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 9, 409–414 (1961).
Mc Cluskey, R. T., Vassali, P.: Experimental glomerular diseases. In: The kidney (Ch. Rouiller and H. F. Muller, eds.), vol. II, p. 83–198, New York: Academic Press (1969).
Millonig, G.: Advantage of phosphate buffer for OsO4 solutions in fixation. J. appl. Physiol. 1937 (1961).
Mugnaini, E., Harboe, S. B.: The liver of Myxine glutinosa: a true tubular gland. Z. Zellforsch. 78, 341–369 (1967)
Okuda, K., Tanikawa, K.: Transport of bilirubin and certain colloids from the sinusoid to the bile canaliculus. Recent Advances in Gastroenterology 111, 187–190 (1967).
Okudaira, Y., Shunsaku, S., Okudaira, M., Hashimoto, T., Hayakawa, K.: Electron microscopic observations on the formation of syncytiotrophoblast from cytotrophoblast. Electron Microscopy 17, 47–54 (1968).
Orlandi, F.: Electron microscopic observations on human liver during cholestasis. Acta hepato-splenol. (Stuttg.) 9, 155–164 (1962).
Pearse, A. G. E.: Histochemistry, theoretical and applied. London: J. S. A. Churchill Ltd. 1960
Raia, S.: Histochemical demonstration of conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin using a modified diazoreagent. Nature (Lond.) 205, 304–305 (1965).
Reynolds, E.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 17, 208–212 (1963).
Saito, T., Ogawa, K.: Ultracytochemical demonstration of D-fructose-1,6-diphosphatase (D-fructose-1,6-diphosphate 1-phosphohydrolase) activity in the rat liver using lead citrate as capture reagent. J. Microscop. (Oxford) 7, 521–532 (1968).
Steiner, J. W., Jezequel, A. M., Phillips, M. J., Miyai, K., Arakawa, K.: Some aspects of the ultrastructural pathology of the liver. In: Progress in Liver Diseases (Popper H. and Schaffner F., eds.), vol. II, p. 303–372. New York and London: Grune and Stratton (1965).
Sterling, J. A., Meranze, D. R., Windsten, S., Krieger, M. K.: Observations of lamprey liver during its life cycle. J. A. Einstein med. Cent. 15, 107–116 (1967).
Takamatsu, H.: Histochemische Untersuchungsmethodik der Phosphatase und deren Verteilung in verschiedenen Organen und Geweben. Trans. Soc. path. Jap. 29, 492–498 (1939).
Takeuchi, T.: Histochemical demonstration of branching enzyme (amylo-1,4→1,6-transglucosidase) in animal tissues. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 6, 208–216 (1958).
Tanikawa, K.: Bilirubin metabolism: 2. Bilirubin excretion. Gastroenterol. Japon 1, 18–19 (1966).
Töro, I., Joo, F.: An aldehyde-mixture as a fixative for the preservation of both fine structure and acid phosphatase activity. Acta biol. Acad. Sci. hung. 17, 265–279 (1966).
Wachstein, M.: Cyto- and histochemistry of the liver. In: The liver (Rouiller C., ced.), vol. 1, p. 137–195. New York and London: Academic Press 1963.
Wachstein, M., Meisel, E.: Histochemistry of hepatic phosphatases at a physiologic pH. Amer. J. klin. Path. 27, 13–23 (1957).
Watson, M. L.: Staining of tissue sections for electron microscopy with heavy metals. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 4, 475–478 (1958).
Wills, E. J., Epstein, H. A.: Subcellular changes in surface adenosine triphosphatase activity of human liver in extrahepatic obstructive jaundice. Amer. J. Path. 49, 605–635 (1966).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by a grant from the „Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Geneeskundig Onderzoek“ of Belgium. — The authors are most grateful to Miss R. Gillard, Mrs. L. Seys-Tanghe and Miss A. Van Houtte for their invaluable technical help. They are also indebted to Mr. M. Rooseleers for photographic work and to Mrs. S. Smets-Honsia for preparation of the manuscript.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
De Vos, R., De Wolf-Peeters, C. & Desmet, V. A morphologic and histochemical study of biliary atresia in lamprey liver. Z.Zellforsch 136, 85–96 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307681
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307681