Scanning Electron Microscopy of the Liver of Prenatal and Postnatal Sheep

Abstract

The present study was conducted on liver of prenatal (n=4) and postnatal sheep (n=3) below one year of age to
elucidate scanning electron microscopic features during development. Hepatic lobule was polyhedral prism shaped
and surrounded by terminal portal veins with occasional gates connecting it to sinusoids. Hepatocytes were organized
in radially arranged plates around the central vein and presented intercellular face, sinusoidal face and connective
tissue face. Hepatic sinusoids were lined by the fenestrated sinusoidal endothelium and surrounded by hepatocytes.
Stellate shaped Kupffer cells were connected to the endothelial wall by filopodia and a long cytoplasmic prolongation.
Scanning electron microscopy revealed that several bile canaliculi converged to form an ampulla which appeared as
Canal of Hering. Wall of ampulla was mainly formed by hepatoctytes and partly by a few ductular cells containing
cilium.