Biomaterial Database

A correlated thin section and freeze-fracture study of o-phenylphenol-indued alterations in the rat liver. 1980

H Robenek, and R Meiss, and H Themann, and S Himmels

The ultrastructural changes in the liver cells of male Wistar rats induced by oral and subcutaneous application of o-phenylphenol were studied electron microscopically using the thin section and freeze-fracture technique. The rats were given the o-phenylphenol once at a dose of 2,500 mg/kg b.w. and were sacrificed 60 h after treatment. In the orally treated animals, alterations in the nuclei and nucleoli of the hepatocytes were the most prominent alterations. Furthermore, an increase in smooth endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes and microbodies were found. After the subcutaneous injection of o-phenylphenol enlargements of the bile canaliculi, intercellular space and pathological alterations in the mitochondria were seen. A proliferation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, an increase of microbodies and a decrease in the rough endoplasmic reticulum could be found. Both groups showed an increase in small intracellular fat droplets in the hepatocytes. In general, the effects of the subcutaneous application on the liver were more pronounced than the effects of the oral application. Freeze-fracture replicas exhibited a disorganization of the zonulae occludentes and an apparent increase in the number and size of gap junctions. These alterations were interpreted as an attempt of the liver cells to counteract the intracanalicular pressure and to increase the mechanical stability of the liver tissue.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
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
D008297	Male		Males
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008930	Mitochondria, Liver	Mitochondria in hepatocytes. As in all mitochondria, there are an outer membrane and an inner membrane, together creating two separate mitochondrial compartments: the internal matrix space and a much narrower intermembrane space. In the liver mitochondrion, an estimated 67% of the total mitochondrial proteins is located in the matrix. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p343-4)	Liver Mitochondria,Liver Mitochondrion,Mitochondrion, Liver
D009940	Organoids	An organization of cells into an organ-like structure. Organoids can be generated in culture, e.g., self-organized three-dimensional tissue structures derived from STEM CELLS (see MICROPHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS). They are also found in certain NEOPLASMS.	Organoid
D002467	Cell Nucleus	Within a eukaryotic cell, a membrane-limited body which contains chromosomes and one or more nucleoli (CELL NUCLEOLUS). The nuclear membrane consists of a double unit-type membrane which is perforated by a number of pores; the outermost membrane is continuous with the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM. A cell may contain more than one nucleus. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Cell Nuclei,Nuclei, Cell,Nucleus, Cell
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
D005614	Freeze Fracturing	Preparation for electron microscopy of minute replicas of exposed surfaces of the cell which have been ruptured in the frozen state. The specimen is frozen, then cleaved under high vacuum at the same temperature. The exposed surface is shadowed with carbon and platinum and coated with carbon to obtain a carbon replica.	Fracturing, Freeze,Fracturings, Freeze,Freeze Fracturings
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
D001648	Bile Canaliculi	Minute intercellular channels that occur between liver cells and carry bile towards interlobar bile ducts. Also called bile capillaries.	Bile Canaliculus,Canaliculi, Bile,Canaliculus, Bile