Ultrastructure of the liver cells in Salamandra salamandra (L.) in the end of Winter
Mişcalencu, D.; Iordăchel, M.C.; Mailat, F.; Mihăescu, G.; Untu, C.
Acta Anatomica 101(1): 10-18
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5180 PMID: 645331 Document Number: 129332
Following hibernation, most salamander liver cells undergo alterations. The liver cells containing the structure of their activity period present a normal nucleus, glycogen ranules disseminated throughout the entire cytoplasm and granular mitochondria with several peripheral cristae. Most cells possess altered mitochondria, transformed into electron-dense masses, or clear vesicles with the possibility of digesting the ambient organelles. Other cells have clear vacuoles with similar digestive possibilities. The endoplasmic reticulum is poorly represented in the liver cells that have suffered advanced alteration. The nucleus of these cells is homogeneously granular. The cytoplasm is populated by electron-dense bodies and lipid vacuoles. The nucleolemma and plasmalemma are thickened. The pigmented cells, altered concomitantly with the liver cells, contain granular aggregates. Some of the pigmented cells exhibit electron-clear formations similar to the reflecting platelets of the iridocytes of the integument of lower vertebrates.