The hepatic ultrastructure of chlordene-fed pigeons.

Adult male pigeons were fed 500 ppm of nontoxic chlordene per day for 6 weeks. The ultrastructure of hepatic cells of treated pigeons was examined and compared with that of the control birds. Chlordene feeding induced cytological changes in the structure of liver cells. Thinning of the microvilli of bile canaliculi and clear marking of fibrous long spacing and non-fibrous segment long spacing on collagen fibers were noticed. Increase in the number as well as the vacuolation of lipid bodies in certain portions of the cytoplasm, presence of myeloid bodies in mitochondria, and an increase in the smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum were observed in the liver cells of pigeons given chlordene.