Extravascular cells within the perisinusoidal space of the avian liver

Abstract

Ultrastructural studies of the perisinusoidal space in the avian liver have demonstrated the presence of 2 extravascular cell types--a fat-storing cell and a free mesenchyme cell or histiocyte. This latter cell type is capable of participating in the formation of a bile canaliculus with the hepatic parenchymal cell. The possibility of the fat-storing cell differentiating from the histiocyte is suggested.

Ultrastructure of in situ perfusion‐fixed avian liver, with special reference to structure of the sinusoids

“…Similar variation is present in accounts of the ultrastructure of glycogen in avian liver. While glycogen has been described as ␣ and ␤ particles with high electron-density in a number of avian studies (Allen and Carstens, 1966;Hodges, 1972;Ohata and Ito, 1986;Dwivedi et al, 1984), Purton (1969aPurton ( , 1976 illustrated glycogen as large areas of electron-lucent deposits. In a study of chick embryo liver ultrastructure, Cox (1960, 1961) observed variation in the appearance of glycogen.…”

“…In his study the author suggested that these cells may, along with hepatocytes, take part in forming bile canaliculi. He also proposed that these cells might transform into fat-storing cells (Purton, 1976). The presence of such cells in the avian liver parenchyma was later confirmed by Ohata et al (1982).…”

“…In this study, genuine phagocytic activity was not recorded in Ito cells. Purton (1976) first reported the presence of a free mesenchymal cell other than the fat-storing (Ito) cell in the liver of mature chickens. In his study the author suggested that these cells may, along with hepatocytes, take part in forming bile canaliculi.…”

Exoerythrocytic development of Plasmodium gallinaceum in the White Leghorn chicken

“…The molecular basis for the different patterns of dissemination and host cell preference of avian versus mammalian malaria species is unknown. With minor exceptions, the architecture of the avian liver lobule (Elias and Bengelsdorf, 1952;Hickey and Elias, 1954;Purton, 1969a, b;Hodges, 1972Hodges, , 1974Purton, 1976;Yamashiro and Bast, 1978;McLelland, 1979;Bhatnagar et al, 1980;Bhatnagar and Singh, 1982;Ohata et al, 1982;Ohata and Ito, 1986;Abdelwahab, 1987;Ghoddusi and Kelly, 2004) is essentially identical to that of humans and most mammals (Jones and Spring-Mills, 1984;Gumucio et al, 1994). Further, birds generally synthesize the same classes of glycosaminoglycans as mammals (Owens and Wagner, 1992), rendering the possibility unlikely that these host factors are responsible for the lack of selective targeting of P. gallinaceum sporozoites to the liver.…”