Effects of isoprenaline treatment on the rat liver parenchyma. Ultrastructural investigations

Morphohistochemical changes in hepatocytes during the life cycle of the European eel

The comparative analysis of morphological, histochemical and cytochemical patterns of eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) hepatocytes reveals clear differences between two stages of its life cycle, i.e. the trophic stage (yellow eel) and reproductive stage (silver eel). The storage of glycogen prevails in the yellow eel, whilst lipids appear to be remarkably increased in the silver eel, in which some hepatocytes also show glycogen-rich areas. Generally, in the silver eel dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase activities seem greater and different distribution of the reaction products is present; on the contrary, a lower G6PDH activity is observed. The electron microscopy characteristics and distribution of both cellular organelles and reserve materials reflect the modifications found at light microscopy. The ultrastructural patterns provide further evidence for the heterogeneity of liver parenchyma in silver eel. In particular, the coexistence of nuclei showing a different degree of chromatin compactness is also accounted for by the quantitative cytochemical data on the nuclear DNA after Feulgen reaction and intercalation with propidium iodide at low and high concentrations. With regard to the DNA content, the hepatocytes in the silver eel as well as in the yellow eel are mainly 2c. However, some 4c values are also found, which according to the literature can be ascribed to cells in G2 phase. The present data may express the onset of different functional requirements during the reproductive stage in comparison with the trophic one. Moreover, our results are consistent with modifications found by other authors as a consequence of interruption of nourishment and during gonad maturation, i.e. two phenomena characterizing the transition from yellow to silver eel.

Methodological problems in the histochemical demonstration of succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase activity

Methodological aspects of the histochemical technique for the demonstration of succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase activity (EC 1.2.1.24) (indicative of the degradative step of gamma-aminobutyric acid catabolism) have been analysed in rat Purkinje neurons, where gamma-aminobutyric acid has been shown to be a neurotransmitter, and in hepatocytes, where it is metabolized. During a histochemical incubation for the enzyme, artefacts of succinate dehydrogenase activity and the 'nothing dehydrogenase' reaction are produced. Inhibition of these artefacts by the addition of two inhibitors, malonate and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, revealed specific reaction products. Formazan granules, which can be ascribed only to specific succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase activity, are obtained by adding malonate to the incubation medium in order to inhibit both succinate dehydrogenase activity and nothing dehydrogenase. The formation of these granules is completely inhibited by p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, an inhibitor of succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase activity. Different levels of succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase activity were noted in Purkinje neurons. This activity was also found in hepatocytes, mostly in the portal area, but with a lesser degree of intensity and specificity. Indeed, non-specific formazan granules were still produced, because of the 'nothing dehydrogenase' reaction, even in the presence of malonate. Thus, a malonate-insensitive 'nothing dehydrogenase' reaction seems to be present in neural and hepatic tissues.