QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF STRUCTURAL-CHANGES IN RATS LIVER FOLLOWING OBSTRUCTION OF COMMON BILE-DUCT

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 57  (1) , 85-94
Abstract
The sequential changes in the rat''s liver from 1-40 days after obstruction of the common bile duct were studied. The qualitative changes were described and illustrated. The volume proportions of hepatocytes, bile duct epithelium and biliary stroma were quantified by histological analysis using a point counting technique. The proliferation of hepatocytes and bile duct cells were measured by labeling with tritiated thymidine. The absolute quantity of hepatocytes in each liver was estimated and expressed as a percentage of body weight. Over 40 days there is a relative fall in the volume proportion of hepatocytes and an increase in bile duct cells and biliary stroma. These changes in volume proportions are related directly to the period of jaundice. Biliary stroma increases in support of new bile duct tissue and there is no excessive fibrosis. Hepatocytes proliferate at a greater rate than normal after obstruction of the common bile duct and the degree of proliferation reaches a maximum of 24 times that of normal 4 days after obstruction. Similarly, the proliferation of bile duct epithelium is increased in obstructive jaundice but in this instance it reaches a maximum of 50 times that of normal 24 h after ligation of the common bile duct. The absolute quantity of hepatocytes in the liver probably falls during the period of jaundice. The fall is less than anticipated from the volume proportion of hepatocytes because of the overall increase in liver size.