Morphogenesis of septa in hepatic fibrosis induced by choline deficiency in rats. Correlation between ito cells, pericellular fibrosis, and septa.

Examination of hepatic fibrosis induced by choline deficient diet showed the histogenesis of early fibrosis and septa formation. Male rats were fed a choline deficient diet. Groups of three were sacrificed after 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 12, and 13 weeks. Control groups of three rats were sacrificed after 6, 8, and 12 weeks. All choline deficient rats showed initial steatosis around the portal tracts. The fat droplets were small at first and gave a microvesicular appearance. As they grew, they gathered around the terminal hepatic venule by the 3rd week. Then, reticular fibers developed around the hepatocytes in the centrolobular area and fibroses connected the terminal hepatic venules. The fat droplets became larger and made nodular masses around the portal tract. These compressed the fibroses to the periphery where they formed septa. After 12 weeks, regenerating nodules developed. Electron microscopy showed that fat storing cells helped cause pericellular fibrosis.