Influence of kavain on hepatic ultrastructure

Figure 2 Scanning electron micrographs of control (A and B) and kavain-treated (C and D) livers. A: Overall low magnification image shows the intact histological relationship between the liver sinusoidal vascular bed (large arrow) and the neighbouring liver parenchymal cells (small arrow) of control liver tissue. Scale bar, 100 micrometer; B: Intermediate magnification of control liver tissue reveals the intact hepatic endothelial lining (large arrow) and its relationship with the neighbouring hepatocytes (small arrow). Scale bar, 40 micrometer. Inset depicts the pores or so-called fenestrae (arrow) at high magnification (bar represents 1 micrometer); C: Observation of kavain-treated liver tissue at low magnification reveals loss of the normal straight and parallel aligned sinusoidal blood vessels, instead contracted and curly microvessels can be seen (large arrow). Note that the hepatocytes appear to be swollen and have lost their relationship with the bordering endothelial lining (small arrow). Scale bar, 100 micrometer; D: When the same tissue is observed at higher magnification the endothelial damage in the form of gaps (large arrow) and the disconnection of the liver parenchymal cells (small arrow) becomes apparent. Scale bar, 40 micrometer. The inset illustrates the severely damaged endothelial lining (arrow, gaps; scale bar 1 micrometer).