Ultrastructure of periportal and centrilobular hepatocytes in human fatty liver of various aetiology.

The ultrastructure of periportal and centrilobular hepatocytes of fatty liver from 2 alcoholic patients, 2 diabetic patients and 2 obese patients is described and compared with that of hepatocytes in 2 patients with normal liver. A striking difference between periportal and centrilobular hepatocytes in all cases of fatty liver is deomonstrated. The periportal hepatocytes contain abnormal mitochondria, while centrilobular hepatocytes have normal mitochondria, but fatty vacuoles, peroxisomes and lysosomes are more abundant. The nature and degree of ultrastructural changes showed no correlation with aetiology of the fatty liver. The normal livers showed no such changes or distinct differences between periportal and centrilobular hepatocytes.