Stereologic analysis of mitochondria of hepatocyte from fasted rats in the course of digestion.

Changes of the configurational states of the rat's hepatocyte mitochondria after 18 hours fasting and then one, two, three, four hours after feeding were investigated with stereological methods. Among others morphometric parameters coefficient of share (E) was introduced to express external or internal mitochondrial compartment volume per unit of surface area of the internal membrane. For parameters variation analysis Kruskal-Wallis test was used. Application of stereological methods reveals subtle changes lying beyond the power of visual observation and make possible the recognition of ultrastructural configuration of mitochondria in hepatocyte in the course of fasting and digestion connected with the various metabolic state.