Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ultrastructural changes in the bile canaliculi and the lateral surfaces of rat hepatocytes during restorative proliferation

  • Published:
Virchows Archiv B Cell Pathology Including Molecular Pathology

Summary

Ultrastructural changes in the bile canaliculi and the lateral surfaces of rat hepatocytes during regeneration following a two-third partial hepatectomy were studied by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. A marked increase in microvilli, widening of the intercellular spaces, and invagination and indentation of cytoplasmic membranes were seen in the lateral surfaces of hepatocytes during the early period after the operation. The density of the microvilli on the lateral surfaces gradually decreased and intercellular spaces returned to normal within 24 h, whereas the bile canaliculi revealed dilatation and tortuosity with elongation of microvilli. Hepatocytes during mitosis became rounded and showed dispersed microvilli on the sinusoidal surface. The bile canaliculi of mitotic hepatocytes were continuous with those of adjacent hepatocytes. On the 2nd or 3rd day posthepatectomy, hepatic plates became more than one-cell thick and hepatocytes showed occasional acinar arrangements around the dilated bile canalicular lumina. These features gradually returned to normal by one week after the operation. This study revealed unique sequential changes in the bile canaliculi and the lateral surfaces of hepatocytes during regeneration after partial hepatectomy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akasaki M, Kawasaki T, Yamashina T (1975) The isolation and characterization of glycopeptides and mucopolysaccharides from plasma membrane of normal and regenerating livers of rats. Febs Lett 59:100–104

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Benacerraf B, Bilbey D, Biozzi G, Halpern BN, Stiffel C (1957) The measurement of liver blood flow in partially hepatectomized rats. J Physiol 136:287–293

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bhathal PS, Christie GS (1969) Intravital fluorescence microscopy of the terminal and subterminal portions of the biliary tree of normal guinea pigs and rats. Lab Invest 20:472–479

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks SEH, Higgins GH (1973) Scanning electron microscopy of rat’s liver. Application of freeze-fracture and freeze drying techniques. Lab Invest 29:60–64

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bruscalupi G, Curatola G, Lenaz G, Leoni S, Mangiantini MT, Mazzanti L, Spagnuolo S, Trentalance A (1980) Plasma membrane changes associated with rat liver regeneration. Biochem Biophys Acta 597:263–273

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Compagno J, Grisham JW (1974) Scanning electron microscopy of extrahepatic biliary obstruction. Arch Pathol 97:348–351

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Vos R, De Wolf-Peeters C, Desmet V, Bianchi L, Rohr HP (1975) Significance of liver canalicular changes after experimental bile duct ligation. Exp Mol Pathol 23:12–34

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dyatlovitskaya EV, Novilow AM, Gorkova NP, Bergelson LD (1976) Gangliosides of hepatoma 27, normal and regenerating rat liver. Eur J Biochem 63:357–364

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elias H, Sherric JC (1969) Morphology of the liver. Academic Press, New York and London

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabrikant JI (1968) The kinetics of cellular proliferation in regenerating liver. J Cell Biol 36:551–565

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fujita T, Tokunaga J, Inoue H (1971) Atlas of scanning electron microscopy. Igaku Shoin, Tokyo, pp 20–21

  • Gabbiani G, Ryan GB (1974) Development of a contractile apparatus in epithelial cells during epidermal and liver regeneration. J Submicrosc Cytol 6:143–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Grisham JW, Nopanitaya W, Compagno J, Nagel AEH (1975) Scanning electron microscopy of normal rat liver: The surface structure of its cells and tissue components. Am J Anat 144:295–322

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grisham JW, Tillman MS, Nagel AEH, Compagno J (1976) Ultrastructure of the proliferating hepatocytes: Sinusoidal surfaces and endoplasmic reticulum. In : Lesch R, Reutter W (eds) Liver regeneration after experimental injury. Stratton Intercontinental Medical Book Corporation, New York, pp 6–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones AL, Schmucker AI (1977) Current concepts of liver structure as related to function. Gastroenterology 73:833–851

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lane BP, Becker FF (1966) Regeneration of the mammalian liver. II Surface alterations during disdifferentiation of the liver cell in preparation for cell-division. Am J Pathol 48:183–196

    PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leffert HL, Knoch KS (1980) Ionic events at the membrane initiate rat liver regeneration. Ann NY Acad Sci 339:201–215

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leffert HL, Alexander NM, Faloona G, Rubalcava B, Unger R (1975) Specific endocrine and hormonal receptor changes associated with liver regeneration in adult rats. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 72:4033–4036

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leong GF, Pessotti RL, Brauer RW (1959) Liver function in regenerating rat liver. CrPO4 colloid uptake and bile flow. Am J Physiol 197:880–886

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leoni S, Luly P, Mangiantini MT, Spagnuolo S, Trentalance A, Verna R (1975) Hormone responsiveness of plasma membrane-bound enzymes in normal and regenerating rat liver. Biochem Biophys Acta 394:317–322

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marceau N, Deschenes J, Landry J (1980) Rates of degradation of glycoproteins from normal and regenerating rat livers: A study using double isotopes. Arch Biochem Biophys 199:384–392

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miyai K, Abraham JL, Linthicum DS, Wagner RM (1976) Scanning electron microscopy of hepatic ultrastructure. Secondary, scattered, and transmitted electron imaging. Lab Invest 35:369–376

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mori M, Novikoff AB (1975) Studies on regenerating liver. J Histochem Cytochem 23:315–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Mori M, Novikoff AB (1977) Induction of pinocytosis in rat hepatocytes by partial hepatectomy. J Cell Biol 72:695

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Motta P, Porter KR (1974) Structure of rat liver sinusoids and associated tissue spaces as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. Cell Tissue Res 148:111–125

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ogawa K, Medline A, Farber E (1979) Sequential analysis of hepatic carcinogenesis: The comparative architecture of preneoplastic, malignant, prenatal, postnatal and regenerating liver. Br J Cancer 40:782–790

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ogawa K, Medline A, Farber E (1979) Sequential analysis of hepatic carcinogenesis. A comparative study of the ultrastructure of preneoplastic, malignant, prenatal, postnatal, and regenerating liver. Lab Invest 41:22–35

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ogawa K, Minase T, Enomoto K, Onoe T (1973) Ultrastructure of fenestrated cells in the sinusoidal wall of rat liver after perfusion fixation. Tohoku J Exp Med 110:89–101

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pfeifer U, Reus G (1980) A morphometric study on growth of bile canaliculi after partial hepatectomy. Virchows Arch [Cell Pathol] 33:167–176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips MJ, Langer B, Stone B, Fischer MM, Richie S (1973) Benign liver cell tumors: Classification and ultrastructural pathology. Cancer 32:463–470

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steiner JW, Carruthers JS (1961) Studies on the fine structure of the terminal branches of the biliary tree. Am J Pathol 39:41–63

    PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stenger RJ, Cofer DB (1966) Hepatocellular ultrastructure during liver regeneration after subtotal hepatectomy. Exp Mol Pathol 5:455–474

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tomoyori T, Mori M, Ogawa K, Onoe T (1980) A scanning electron microscopic observation of bile canaliculi in regenerating liver. Jpn J Clin Elec Microscopy 13:5–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Viragh S, Bartok J (1966) An electronmicroscopic study of the regeneration of the liver following partial hepatectomy. Am J Pathol 49:825–839

    PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wachstein M, Meisel E (1957) Histochemistry of hepatic phosphatase at a physiological pH with special reference to the demonstration of bile canaliculi. Am J Clin Pathol 27:13–23

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wachstein M (1963) Cyto- and histochemistry of the liver. In: Rouiller C (ed) The liver. Academic Press, New York, pp 137–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Wanson JC, Bernaert D, May C (1979) Morphology and functional properties of isolated and cultured hepatocytes. In: Popper H, Schaffner E (eds) Progress in Liver Diseases, vol 6. Grune & Stratton, New York, San Francisco, London, pp 1–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Wisse E (1970) An electron microscopic study of the fenestrated endothelial lining of rat liver sinusoid. J Ultrastruct Res 31:125–150

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wright GH (1977) Changes in plasma membrane enzyme activities during liver regeneration in the rat. Biochem Biophys Acta 470:368–381

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yee AG, Revel JP (1978) Loss and reappearance of gap junctions in regenerating liver. J Cell Biol 78:554–564

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zaki FG (1966) Ultrastructure of hepatic cholestasis. Medicine 45:537–545

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical College, S. 1, W. 17, 060, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Japan

    Takashi Tomoyori, Katsuhiro Ogawa, Michio Mori & Tamenori Onoé

Authors
  1. Takashi Tomoyori
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Katsuhiro Ogawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michio Mori
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tamenori Onoé
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This study was supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of Japan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tomoyori, T., Ogawa, K., Mori, M. et al. Ultrastructural changes in the bile canaliculi and the lateral surfaces of rat hepatocytes during restorative proliferation. Virchows Archiv B Cell Pathol 42, 201–211 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02890383

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02890383

Key words

Search

Navigation