Developmental trends of liver parenchyma in the terminal period of gestation: a stereological approach.
The aim of the presented study was to establish the baseline data concerning the volumes density of basic architectonic components of human fetal liver parenchyma. The stereological measuring principles of the point-counting method were used. The livers of 38 appropriate for gestational age fetuses, and 12 small for gestational age fetuses were measured. All fetuses investigated were stillborns. A lower volume density of hepatocytic population was found in full-term mature fetuses, when compared with the adults. A lower volume density of hepatocytes has been also disclosed in intra-uterine growth retarded fetuses, when compared with their physiologically developed counterparts of the same gestational age.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000473:pathology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy