[Influence of autolysis on the quantitative cytoarchitecture of rat hepatocytes. (An ultrastructural morphometric study) (author's transl)].

Abstract

Introduction: Autolysis is very often a reason for cell damage and is also super-imposed on many other cell damages. Already one hour of autolysis causes serious changes in cell metabolism, which can be demonstrated morphometrically.

Material and methods: Experiments were made with 10 male adult Wistar rats. 5 animals were for control purposes and 5 animals had to undergo a 1-hour's autolysis. The morphometric analysis of the liver parenchymal cells was based on the information of Weibel et al. (1968) with the help of a computer program.

Results and discussion: The consequence of the drop in energy caused by autolysis is an enlargement of the liver cell which is possibly due to a breakdown of the energy-dependent ionic pumps. One of the earliest observable cell changes is a so-called "Kernwandhyperchromatosis" and chromatin condensation within the nuclei, whereby the Kernwandhyperchromatosis is seen to be a direct consequence of the increase in lactate and decrease of pH. ATP-sufficiency causes a disturbed function of mitochondrial membranes. The microchondria are swollen, the number of mitochondrial grana is clearly reduced. An enlargement of the mitochondrial outer membrane takes place by folding while the surface of mitochondrial cristae remains unchanged. As a consequence of the altered membrane activities also the peroxisomes swell at reduced numerial density. At unchanged total volume of RER the surface of the granulated membranes of the RER decrease by 50%. This decrease caused by ribosome detachment of the granulated membranes corresponds to the enlargement of the degranulated membrane parts of the nedoplasmic reticulum. The vesiculation is caused by an unspecific damage of cytoplasm. While the density of its volume and the membrane surface remain unaltered, the SER also shows a tendency to small vesiculation caused by an unspecific damage of cytoplasm. The increase in number and volume of the lysosomes and vacuoles of unknown origin speaks for a lysosomal activity. The cell compartment responsible for protein synthesis shows the most impressive morphometric and morphologic changes, which eventually can be explained by a decrease of protein synthesis which is needed to obtain enough energy for a well operating physiological equilibrium.