A scanning electron microscopy of subcellular structures of the human hepatic cell.

Human liver specimens obtained by needle biopsy were extensively osmicated by the revised tannin-osmium method of MURAKAMI (1974) and cracked in air after critical point drying, to be observed in the scanning electron microscope. The fracture tended to occur along the membranous elements and exposed beautifully fractured faces of the hepatic cell. The nucleus of the hepatic cell was spherical. The nuclear pores were demonstrated as small pits 0.1 mu in diameter and their total occurrence in one nucleus was estimated to be 2,100. In the spongy framework resembling the endoplasmic reticulum, oval-shaped mitochondria and multivesicular tufts of the Golgi complex were observed. The nucleolus of the hepatic cell nucleus was noticed as a highlighted mass in the cloudy nucleoplasm.