Sinusoidal cells in rats with portacaval shunt: a morphometric study.

Sinusoidal cells were studied in rats 2 weeks after portacaval shunt. Livers were perfused with glutaraldehyde via the aorta. Morphometric analysis was performed in periportal and centrolobular zones of the liver acinus. Liver atrophy was the main consequence of portal blood derivation. Per unit of hepatic parenchyma the number of hepatocytes and Kuppfer cells counted on 1 micron section was comparable in portacaval shunt and sham operated rats. 2 weeks after the shunt, sinusoidal cell ultrastructure was nearly normal. Morphometric analysis showed sinusoids slightly enlarged and Kupffer cell volume density increased in both zones. Kupffer cell lysosomal-like structures such as electron-lucent vacuoles and phagolysosomes had larger volume density. Ito cells number and volume density slightly increased after portacaval shunt. These findings suggest that endotoxemia which could occur after portal blood shunting might be better related to shunting than to depression of the reticuloendothelial system.