The Liver. An Atlas and Text of Ultrastructural Pathology

Cytological and Biochemical Alterations in Carassius auratus Hepatocytes from Exposure to Sediment Containing Dioxins and Related Compounds

“…ϫ3000 ment. It has been reported that the proliferation of SER is regarded as a general sign of intoxication and is associated with induction of the detoxification process in mammals (Phillips et al 1987) and fish (Hinton et al 1978;Braunbeck et al 1989). Other studies of fish exposed to organic environmental contaminants found proliferation of SER (Braunbeck et al 1990).…”

“…Because many enzymes, such as cytochrome P450 (measured as EROD activity), are embedded in SER and these enzymes are involved in detoxification of many organic toxicants (Van der Weiden et al 1989), SER proliferation also is a sensitive indicator of exposure to organic toxicants in fish. Some reports have described the reduction of RER and an increase of heterogenicity (Phillips et al 1987;Braunbeck et al 1990;Braunbeck 1992) and vesiculation after PCB or PAH exposure in fish. In our observations, the dilation, fragmentation, and vesiculation of RER is very similar to the result reported by Norrgren et al (1993) and Engwall et al (1994).…”

“…It is a major site of accumulation, biotransformation and excretion of xenobiotics and responds sensitively to environmental contamination (Phillips et al 1987). Thus, the liver has been considered as a primary target organ of toxic chemicals.…”

“…It is commonly realized that any physiological and biochemical responses, if severe enough, will eventually result in morphological alterations (Hinton and Lauren 1990) or structural modifications followed by functional changes. In morphological studies, histopathological alterations are important indicators of the effects of environmental pollution on organisms (Phillips et al 1987).…”

Targeting of aminopeptidase n to bile canaliculi correlates with secretory activities of the developing canalicular domain

“…The plasma membrane of hepatocytes can differentiate into 3 functionally and structurally distinct domains: 1) the sinusoidal membrane that faces the circulation; 2) the lateral membrane that is involved in cell-cell and cell-substratum interactions; and 3) the apical domain (or bile canalicular domain) that, with its welldeveloped microvilli and junction complexes, forms bile canaliculi (BC). [5][6][7][8][9] Development and maintenance of this membrane polarity is essential for functional integrity of the liver, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remained largely elusive. [10][11][12] It is difficult to maintain the normal polarity of hepatocytes in culture.…”