Mitochondria Load Degree in Hepatocytes of the Classical Hepatic Lobules in Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)

Abstract

Hepatocytes represent the majority of the liver cell population and are arranged in the form of cords placed in intimate contact with the sinusoidal capillaries. The functional complexity corroborated with the intensity of the activity of hepatocytes requires large amounts of energy. The organelles involved in the production of chemical energy used in the activity of hepatocytes are the mitochondria. The purpose of this study was to verify the mitochondrial load of hepatocytes in all areas of the classical hepatic lobules, in order to indirectly assess the intensity of hepatocyte activity in each area. Materials and Methods Five fresh corpses of chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) from an independent breeder from Bistrița-Năsăud county were used. Liver fragments were harvested and fixated in Kolster’s solution for 24 hours, stained with Heidenhain ferric hematoxylin, and assessed using Olympus BX41 microscope. Fixation with Kolster's solution and the staining with Heidenhain's iron hematoxylin clearly shows the hepatocytic mitochondria in shades from gray to black. The liver lobules displayed an uneven distribution of mitochondria depending on the area. In zone 1 of the classical hepatic lobule, the degree of loading of hepatocytes with mitochondria is larger than in zone 2 and much larger than in zone 3. Morphological features of the hepatocytes, including the number and distribution of mitochondria in the hepatic lobules, should improve the understanding of the physiology and pathology of the liver.