Ultrastructure of the developing fetal hepatocyte of Macaca arctoides: a proposed model for studies of fetal drug metabolism.
The ultrastructure of the hepatocyte of the fetal stumptail monkey was examined with the aim of defining a possible model for studies of fetal drug metabolism. Hepatocytes from fetuses of 80 and 160 days gestation, as well as from one animal one week of postnatal age, were examined and compared to human fetal hepatocytes at 12 and 16 weeks gestation. Marked variation was observed in the amount of lipid and the distribution of organelles within the cytoplasm of the hepatocyte in the monkey population. These differences were attributed to genetic variation. Two changes were seen which correlated with developmental age. The amount of hemopoietic tissue decreased and the amount of smooth endoplasmic reticulum increased as the animal matured. The problems of genetic variation and the relative number of hepatocytes at different stages of development were discussed relative to the use of this animal as a model for fetal drug metabolism studies. Attention to both of these problems is considered necessary for the interpretation of biochemical data in future studies.
D000818:Animals; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D005865:Gestational Age; D006003:Glycogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008251:Macaca; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009992:Osmium; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
D008055:Lipids; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D009992:Osmium; D006003:Glycogen