[Ultrastructure of hepatocytes is teleost fishes following food deprivation].

Liver tissue of nine teleost species has been investigated electron microscopically after periods of fasting. Ultrastructural changes tn the hepatocytes are described mainly from Haplochromis burtoni. 70 days of food deprivation have the following effects: the intercellular spaces are widened; the size of the hepatocytes is reduced; lysosomes are enlarged and reach the diameter of the nucleus and have increased in number; the amount glycogen is reduced; the endoplasmatic reticulum bears less ribosomes. All alterations are reversible. The comparison of different species mainly shows differences conceming to the amount of lipid, which may be reduced or enlarged.