Effects of ethylene glycol on the ultrastructure of hepatocytes.

The ultrastructure of rat hepatocytes after acute experimental ethylene glycol poisoning was examined. On the 1st, 5th and 14th days after poisoning the material from the centrolobular zone (zone III) was collected. Proliferation and enlargement of SER at the early period of poisoning and evidence of mitochondrial damage both at the early and late time after ethylene glycol intoxication were found. In the liver extensive capillary deposits surrounded by membranes were seen, filled with flocculent material of middle electron density. The results show destruction of the cytoplasmic organelles, especially mitochondria, on the 1st and 5th days after ethylene glycol intoxication, and symptoms of damage removing together with regeneration on the 15th day of the experiment.