Characterization by morphometric model of liver regeneration in the rat.
A new stereological approach to the study of liver regeneration in the rat is described. The method employs a morphometric model consisting of number and size, as well as surface and volume fractions of hepatocytes, their nuclei, cytoplasm, and their relation to the sinusoidal bed. With this technique, it was found that 8 hr after partial hepatectomy, the number of nuclei increased as did the nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, suggesting an early hyperplastic phase. These data, which have not been reported in other studies, underline the importance of evaluating the complex phenomenon of liver regeneration using a stereological approach, which is more representative of all morphometric changes occurring inside and outside the hepatocyte.
Istituto di Anatomia Umana Normale, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi, Milano, Italy.
L
L
Vizzotto
F
F
Romani
V F
VF
Ferrario
C T
CT
Degna
P
P
Aseni
D000818:Animals; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012038:Regeneration