title: Effects of old age on vascular complexity and dispersion of the hepatic sinusoidal network.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In old age, there are marked changes in both the structure of the liver sinusoidal endothelial cell and liver perfusion. The objective of this study was to determine whether there are also aging changes in the microvascular architecture and vascular dispersion of the liver that might influence liver function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vascular corrosion casts and light micrographs of young (4 months) and old (24 months) rat livers were compared. Fractal and Fourier analyses and micro-computed tomography were used. Vascular dispersion was determined from the dispersion number for sucrose and 100-nm microspheres in impulse response experiments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age did not affect sinusoidal dimensions, sinusoidal density, or dispersion number. There were changes in the geometry and complexity of the sinusoidal network as determined by fractal dimension and degree of anisotropy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are small, age-related changes in the architecture of the liver sinusoidal network, which may influence hepatic function and reflect broader aging changes in the microcirculation. However, sinusoidal dimensions and hepatic vascular dispersion are not markedly influenced by old age.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Education and Research on Ageing and the ANZAC Research Institute, Concord RG Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Slawomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaberek
authors.forename: Kazimierz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ostrowski
authors.forename: Victoria C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Cogger
authors.forename: Sarah N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Hilmer
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: McCuskey
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Le Couteur
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016319:Corrosion Casting; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D017709:Fractals; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344