Histologic and histochemical studies on the bone marrow, spleen and liver in experimentally-induced chronic renal failure in the rat

Albino rat has been used as an animal model for adenine induced chronic renal failure. Animals were fed a diet containing 0.75% adenine in a dose of 250-350 mg/kg body weight/day for one month. Histologic and histochemical changes of bone marrow, spleen and liver were investigated. Bone marrow smear showed a hypocellularity in the from of a marked decrease of different stages of development of RBCs, leucocytes and megakaryocytes. This was associated with a marked increase in acid phosphatase enzyme activity and a decrease in succinic dehydrogenase enzyme activity. Numerous mast cells were also observed. With the spleen, lymphocytic depletion was observed in the periarteriolar lymphatic sheath, the rest of lymphatic follicle and the red pulp. Macrophage number was apparantely increased in the red pulp. Haemosiderin granules showed a marked increase in the red pulp. Like with the bone marrow, an increase in activity of acid phosphatase enzyme and a decrease in succinic dehydrogenase enzyme activity were noticed in the red pulp. In the liver, hepatocyte vacuolation and increased number of von Kupffer cells were noticed. An increase in acid phosphatase enzyme activity and a decrease in succinic dehydrogenase enzyme activity were observed. There was a patchy depletion of glycogen granules

Histologic and quantitative studies on the augmentation of liver regeneration with glucagon following partial hepatectomy in the rat

The effect of glucagon on the augmentation of liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy of the rat was investigated. Then was a significant increase in the weight of the liver both at day 3 [P<0.01] and day 7 [P<0.001] after partial hepatectomy and the start of glucagon treatment Mitotic Index showed a significant increase [P<0.001] in both partial hepatectomy group [group II] and partial hepatectomy and glucagon treated group [group III]. Stem cells were seen in the portal tract in the vicinity of bile ducts. The great majority of mitotic figures were seen in the prophase stage and were located in zone I of the liver acinus. An increase in ribosomes and mitochondrial number were observed specially in zone I of the liver acinus