Biomaterial Database

Proliferation of mononuclear phagocytes (Kupffer cells) and endothelial cells in regenerating rat liver. A light and electron microscopic cytochemical study. 1975

J J Widmann, and H D Fahimi

The proliferation of littoral cells in regenerating rat liver after partial hepatectomy has been investigated using endogenous peroxidase and uptake of large (0.8-mu) latex particles as markers of Kupffer cells. Female rats were subjected to 2/3 partial hepatectomy and sacrificed at intervals up to 11 days. Prior to sacrifice, animals were injected with latex and their livers were fixed by perfusion and were processed for cytochemical localization of peroxidase. The sinusoidal cells exhibited a marked regenerative response after partial hepatectomy. Peroxidase activity persisted in endoplasmic reticulum of Kupffer cells during mitosis. Furthermore, latex particles were exclusively localized in such peroxidase-positive cells, thus confirming their identity as Kupffer cells. Quantitative counts revealed that the peak mitotic activity of Kupffer cells occurred at 48 hours, whereas that of endothelial cells was at 96 hours after partial hepatectomy. Our findings indicate that Kupffer cells are capable of dividing locally in the liver; no morphologic evidence of transformation of endothelial cells or monocytes to Kupffer cells was found. The significance of these observations concerning the origin of Kupffer cells is discussed, and it is concluded that in the model of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy the Kupffer cells are formed predominantly by local cell division.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007728	Kupffer Cells	Specialized phagocytic cells of the MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTE SYSTEM found on the luminal surface of the hepatic sinusoids. They filter bacteria and small foreign proteins out of the blood and dispose of worn out red blood cells.	Kupffer Cell,Cell, Kupffer,Cells, Kupffer
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008115	Liver Regeneration	Repair or renewal of hepatic tissue.	Liver Regenerations,Regeneration, Liver,Regenerations, Liver
D008938	Mitosis	A type of CELL NUCLEUS division by means of which the two daughter nuclei normally receive identical complements of the number of CHROMOSOMES of the somatic cells of the species.	M Phase, Mitotic,Mitotic M Phase,M Phases, Mitotic,Mitoses,Mitotic M Phases,Phase, Mitotic M,Phases, Mitotic M
D010544	Peroxidases		Ovoperoxidase
D010586	Phagocytes	Cells that can carry out the process of PHAGOCYTOSIS.	Phagocyte,Phagocytic Cell,Phagocytic Cells,Cell, Phagocytic,Cells, Phagocytic
D004721	Endoplasmic Reticulum	A system of cisternae in the CYTOPLASM of many cells. In places the endoplasmic reticulum is continuous with the plasma membrane (CELL MEMBRANE) or outer membrane of the nuclear envelope. If the outer surfaces of the endoplasmic reticulum membranes are coated with ribosomes, the endoplasmic reticulum is said to be rough-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, ROUGH); otherwise it is said to be smooth-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, SMOOTH). (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Ergastoplasm,Reticulum, Endoplasmic
D004727	Endothelium	A layer of epithelium that lines the heart, blood vessels (ENDOTHELIUM, VASCULAR), lymph vessels (ENDOTHELIUM, LYMPHATIC), and the serous cavities of the body.	Endotheliums
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia