[The quantitative cytoarchitecture of Morris hepatoma 66 (author's transl)].

Introduction and methods: To obtain a statistic comparable picturg oncogenesis, tissue of a middle-fast growing Morris-hepatoma 66 was transplanted into the femoral musculature. 35 days later the animals were killed by decapitation and hepatoma tissue was taken. The morphometric analysis based on the technique described by Weibel (1969).

Results and discussion: In the Morris-hepatoma 66 hepatocyte and nucleus show a much smaller single volume in comparison to normal liver cell. Smaller is also the number of nucleoli per nucleus. The decreased numerical density of mitochondria in liver tissue and their smaller content of mitochondrial grana suggest a reduction of the oxidative metabolism. The enlargement of membrane surface of the rough endoplasmatic reticulum in liver tissue is accompanied by a cisternal collapse. The smooth endoplastmatic reticulum is rudimentary in the hepatoma cells. The number of peroxisomes is equal in hepatoma and normal liver. Only half as large is, however, their volume density in liver tissue and so also their single volume.