INTESTINAL METAPLASIA AS A COMMON OPTION OF OVAL CELLS IN RELATION TO CHOLANGIOFIBROSIS IN LIVER OF RATS EXPOSED TO 2-ACETYLAMINOFLUORENE

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 52  (4) , 354-362
Abstract
Oval cell proliferation in the liver was studied in rats exposed to dietary 2-acetylaminofluorene for 2 wk with partial hepatectomy performed midway at 1 wk. Using autoradiography after either continuous or pulse exposure to [3H]thymidine, histochemical staining for leucine aminopeptidase and .gamma.-glutamyltransferase, and transmission electron microscopy, it was found that every animal showed islands of oval cells with small intestinal metaplasia at 3 wk. Transitions from these islands of metaplasia to cholangiofibrosis were commonly seen. The importance of small intestinal metaplasia of oval cells in the genesis of cholangiofibrosis is presented and discussed.