[Toxic pathology of the hepatocyte in histiotype culture. I. The experimental model. Ultrastructural and cytochemical study].

Principle of the method. Description of the techniques used to obtain the cultures, light and electron microscopic study, biochemical determination of proteins, of DNA, of the incorporation of H3-thymidine, of total and lysosomal acid phosphatase activity. Detailed description of hepatocytes developed in unicellular layer: shape and distribution of the cells, junctions, cellular apparatuses and organelles, cytoplasmic inclusions. Comparison of the hepatocyte in vitro and in vivo. The most obvious differences are related to experimental conditions of geometry and nutrition. Particular note should be taken of the microvillous appendices of the free surface and the underlying explasmic layer. Specific physiological activities are evident, including glycogenogenesis. Discussion of multiplication, growth and cellular differentiation phenomena. Vitality tests. In culture, there may develop a tendency to hypertrophy of the mitochondria, of the dictyosomes, to hyperplasia of the granular or smooth endoplasmic reticulum and above all to increased autophagia.