The difference in collagen fiber content, morphological properties and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) distribution was investigated in the liver of both sexes in chicken. Collagen fiber specimens were obtained by maceration treatment with NaOH solution. HSCs were detected using desmin-specific immunohistochemistry. The ratio of liver weight to body weight was larger in the female than the male chickens. Collagen fiber content, the numerical density of HSCs and the percentage area displaying desmin immunopositivity were not different between the right and left lobes of the liver, in both male and female chickens. However, all of these parameters were larger in the males than the females. In the light microscopic observation, many HSCs in the male had large and elongated cytoplasmic processes. Conversely, HSCs with poorly developed cytoplasmic processes were frequently observed in females. Liver tissue is structurally stronger in male chickens than females and the activity and density of HSCs may be related to the collagen fiber content in chicken liver.
The content of collagen and the distribution of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were studied to elucidate the occurrence of sex-dependent variations in the liver of developing embryos and growing chickens. Chick embryos from embryonic days (e) 12 to e20 and chicks at 1, 4 and 8 weeks were analyzed. Liver tissue was processed using NaOH maceration and freeze-dried to obtain the collagen fiber specimens. HSCs were identified by double fluorescent immunohistochemistry for desmin and vimentin. There were no sex-dependent variations in the percentage of collagen fiber per liver weight and HSC area during embryonic stages. However, the content of collagen fiber increased during embryonic development in both sexes. On the other hand, the area of HSCs significantly increased in growing males but did not show any change in females. Importantly, sex differences were observed in both collagen fiber content and HSC area in the liver at 8 weeks. These results indicate that the occurrence of collagen content variations takes place at 8 weeks in chicken liver, suggesting that a sex-dependent hormone may play an important role on the collagen production of HSCs in the growing chicken liver.
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the main collagen-producing cells in the liver. The HSC area and amount of collagen fibers are different between male and female chickens. This study was performed to confirm the effect of estradiol on collagen synthesis in the growing chicken liver. Blood estradiol levels in chicks were compared at 4 and 8 weeks of age, and the collagen fibril network in liver tissue was observed at 8 weeks by scanning electron microscopy. Intraperitoneal administrations of estradiol and tamoxifen to male and female chicks, respectively, were performed daily from 5 to 8 weeks of age. The areas of HSCs and collagen contents were measured in the liver tissue. The blood estradiol level was higher in females than in males, and the collagen fibril network was denser in males than in females at 8 weeks of age. Estradiol administration in males induced decreases in the HSC area and collagen content of the liver. Conversely, tamoxifen administration in females induced an increase in the HSC area but did not facilitate collagen synthesis. Based on these results, estradiol inhibits the area and collagen synthesis of HSCs in the growing chicken liver under normal physiological conditions.
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