Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The American Journal of Pathology logoLink to The American Journal of Pathology
. 1974 Sep;76(3):451–468.

Ultrastructural Changes in Livers of Two Patients with Hypervitaminosis A

Zdenek Hruban, Robert M Russell, James L Boyer, Seymour Glagov, Saeed A Bagheri
PMCID: PMC1910880  PMID: 4416771

Abstract

The principal distinctive ultrastructural changes observed in the livers of 2 patients with chronic hypervitaminosis A were perisinusoidal fibrosis and massive accumulation of lipid-storing cells (Ito cells). The fibrosis consisted of a network of basement membranes with numerous bundles of collagen and reticulum fibrils. This network contained numerous Ito cells, and moderate numbers of lymphocytes, macrophoges and other mesenchymal cells. Impairment of blood flow by perisinusoidal fibrosis probably resulted in the secondary alterations in hepatocytes which included cellular atrophy and formation of cytoplasmic bullae.

Full text

PDF
451

Images in this article

464Fig 4
on p.464
464Fig 5
on p.464
464Fig 6
on p.464
468Fig 16
on p.468
468Fig 17
on p.468
468Fig 18
on p.468
468Fig 19
on p.468
465Fig 7
on p.465
465Fig 8
on p.465
466Fig 9
on p.466
466Fig 10
on p.466
466Fig 11
on p.466
463Fig 1
on p.463
463Fig 2
on p.463
463Fig 3
on p.463
467Fig 12
on p.467
467Fig 13
on p.467
467Fig 14
on p.467
467Fig 15
on p.467

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Albot G., Parturier-Albot M., Nicolescu P. Histologie, ultrastructure et histobiologie des hépatites alcooliques subaiguës et des hépatites alcooliques cirrhogènes. Rev Int Hepatol. 1968;18(2):117–154. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bhathal P. S. Presence of modified fibroblasts in cirrhotic livers in man. Pathology. 1972 Apr;4(2):139–144. doi: 10.3109/00313027209068932. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bronfenmajer S., Schaffner F., Popper H. Fat-storing cells (lipocytes) in human liver. Arch Pathol. 1966 Nov;82(5):447–453. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Büttner D. W., Horstmann E. Das Sphaeridion, eine weit verbreitete Differenzierung des Karyoplasma. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1967;77(4):589–605. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cossel L. Uber akutes Auftreten von Basalmembranen an den Lebersinusoiden. (Beitrag zur Kenntnis der kapillären Basalmembran) Beitr Pathol Anat. 1966 Aug;134(1):103–122. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. DEBRUYN P. P. THE FINE STRUCTURE OF THE MEGAKARYOCYTE OF THE BONE MARROW OF THE GUINEA PIG. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1964 Sep 17;64:111–118. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Daems W. T., Brederoo P. Electron microscopical studies on the structure, phagocytic properties, and peroxidatic activity of resident and exudate peritoneal macrophages in the guinea pig. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1973 Nov 5;144(2):247–297. doi: 10.1007/BF00307305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Feldmann G., Oudea P., Molas G., Domart-Oudea M. C., Fauvert R. L'ultrastructure des hépatocytes au cours des cirrhoses alcooliques. Presse Med. 1970 Feb 21;78(9):409–414. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Gabbiani G., Ryan G. B., Majne G. Presence of modified fibroblasts in granulation tissue and their possible role in wound contraction. Experientia. 1971 May 15;27(5):549–550. doi: 10.1007/BF02147594. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Gould V. E., Tosco R., Wheelis R. F., Gould N. S., Kapanci Y. Oxygen pneumonitis in man. Ultrastructural observations on the development of alveolar lesions. Lab Invest. 1972 May;26(5):499–508. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Hori S. H., Kitamura T. The vitamin A content and retinol esterifying activity of a Kupffer cell fraction of rat liver. J Histochem Cytochem. 1972 Oct;20(10):811–816. doi: 10.1177/20.10.811. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Horvath E., Kovacs K., Ross R. C. Alcoholic liver lesion. Frequency and diagnostic value of fine structural alterations in hepatocytes. Beitr Pathol. 1973;148(1):67–85. doi: 10.1016/s0005-8165(73)80006-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hruban Z., Mochizuki Y., Goto M., Slesers A., Chou S. H. Effects of some hypocholesterolemic agents on hepatic ulrastructure and microbody enzymes. Lab Invest. 1974 Apr;30(4):474–485. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. ITO T., NEMOTO M. Uber die Kupfferschen Sternzellen und die Fettspeicherungszellen (fat storing cells) in der Blutkapillarenwand der memschlichen Leber. Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn. 1952 Oct;24(4):243–258. doi: 10.2535/ofaj1936.24.4_243. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Katz C. M., Tzagournis M. Chronic adult hypervitaminosis A with hypercalcemia. Metabolism. 1972 Dec;21(12):1171–1176. doi: 10.1016/0026-0495(72)90112-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Klion F. M., Schaffner F. Ultrastructural studies in alcoholic liver disease. Digestion. 1968;1(1):2–14. doi: 10.1159/000196826. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Kobayashi K., Takahashi Y., Shibasaki S. Cytological studies of fat-storing cells in the liver of rats given large doses of vitamin A. Nat New Biol. 1973 Jun 6;243(127):186–188. doi: 10.1038/newbio243186a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Kondo Y., Shigematsu H. Cellular aspects of rabbit Masugi nephritis. I. Cell kinetics in recoverable glomerulonephritis. Virchows Arch B Cell Pathol. 1972;10(1):40–50. doi: 10.1007/BF02899714. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Kondo Y., Shigematsu H., Kobayashi Y. Cellular aspects of rabbit Masugi nephritis. II. Progressive glomerular injuries with crescent formation. Lab Invest. 1972 Dec;27(6):620–631. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Lane B. P. Hepatic microanatomy in hypervitaminosis A in man and rat. Am J Pathol. 1968 Oct;53(4):591–598. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. McGee J. O., Patrick R. S. The role of perisinusoidal cells in hepatic fibrogenesis. An electron microscopic study of acute carbon tetrachloride liver injury. Lab Invest. 1972 Apr;26(4):429–440. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Muenter M. D., Perry H. O., Ludwig J. Chronic vitamin A intoxication in adults. Hepatic, neurologic and dermatologic complications. Am J Med. 1971 Jan;50(1):129–136. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(71)90212-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Narang H. K. Surface particles on leukemic lymphocytes in humans. Cancer Res. 1973 Dec;33(12):3216–3221. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Nemetschek-Gansler H. Licht- und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an Leberpunktaten. Unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des retikulohistiozytären Systems (RHS) Med Welt. 1971 Mar 6;10:373–378. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Nicolescu P., Rouiller C. BEZIEHUNGEN ZWISCHEN DEN Endothelzellen der Lebersinusoide und den von Kupfferschen Sternzellen. Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchung. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1967;76(3):313–338. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Phillips M. J., Steiner J. W. Electron microscopy of cirrhotic nodule Tubularization of the parenchyma by biliary hepatocytes. Lab Invest. 1966 May;15(5):801–817. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Popper H., Uenfriend S. Hepatic fibrosis. Correlation of biochemical and morphologic investigations. Am J Med. 1970 Nov;49:707–721. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9343(70)80135-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Rubin E., Florman A. L., Degnan T., Diaz J. Hepatic injury in chronic hypervitaminosis A. Am J Dis Child. 1970 Feb;119(2):132–138. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1970.02100050134008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. SCHAFFNER F., BARKA T., POPPER H. HEPATIC MESENCHYMAL CELL REACTION IN LIVER DISEASE. Exp Mol Pathol. 1963 Oct;31:419–441. doi: 10.1016/0014-4800(63)90020-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. SCHAFFNER F., POPER H. Capillarization of hepatic sinusoids in man. Gastroenterology. 1963 Mar;44:239–242. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. SOLER-BECHARA J., SOSCIA J. L. CHRONIC HYPERVITAMINOSIS A. REPORT OF A CASE IN AN ADULT. Arch Intern Med. 1963 Oct;112:462–466. doi: 10.1001/archinte.1963.03860040058003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Sherman B. S. Autoradiographic localization of 3H-vitamin A in rat liver. Int Z Vitaminforsch. 1969;39(2):111–118. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Soga J., Terada I., Kasukawa M., Koizumi F. Ultrastructural changes of cirrhotic liver associated with chronic alcoholism. A case report. Acta Pathol Jpn. 1970 Aug;20(3):339–356. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1827.1970.tb03075.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. WEIBEL E. R., PALADE G. E. NEW CYTOPLASMIC COMPONENTS IN ARTERIAL ENDOTHELIA. J Cell Biol. 1964 Oct;23:101–112. doi: 10.1083/jcb.23.1.101. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Widmann J. J., Cotran R. S., Fahimi H. D. Mononuclear phagocytes (Kupffer cells) and endothelial cells. Identification of two functional cell types in rat liver sinusoids by endogenous peroxidase activity. J Cell Biol. 1972 Jan;52(1):159–170. doi: 10.1083/jcb.52.1.159. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Wisse E. An ultrastructural characterization of the endothelial cell in the rat liver sinusoid under normal and various experimental conditions, as a contribution to the distinction between endothelial and Kupffer cells. J Ultrastruct Res. 1972 Mar;38(5):528–562. doi: 10.1016/0022-5320(72)90089-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The American Journal of Pathology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Investigative Pathology

RESOURCES