Fig. 6.

TEM micrographs illustrating liver tissue of control (a), AgNPs (b–f) and AgNO₃-treated (g–n) rats, 7 days after i.t. instillation. Normal hepatic morphology is manifestly preserved in controls (a), whereas ultrastructural changes are observable in the liver of treated animals, after both AgNO₃ and AgNPs. Haemorrhagic blood clots in enlarged sinusoid together with inflammatory cells, close to damaged cytoplasmic areas (b); dilated sinusoid engulfed with cellular debris (c); enlarged hepatic sinusoid showing an increase of characteristic microvilli (d); increased collagen fibers in perisinusoidal space of Disse (e); dilated biliary canaliculus in a degraded cytoplasmic region (f). Widespread ultrastructural damage with dilated sinusoid engulfed with cellular debris (g and h), often accompanied by increased microvilli (i); collagen fibres deposition (l); space of Disse with inflammatory cells (m); hepatocyte showing damaged cytoplasm, close to enlarged sinusoid characterized by the presence of Kupffer cells and cellular degraded material (n). Original magnification: x 5,000 (a–c, h–i); x 12,000 (d–g, l); x 20,000 (m); x 10,000 (n).