Ultrastructural Liver Pathology in Patients with Minimal Liver Disease and α1‐Antitrypsin Deficiency: A Comparison Between Heterozygous and Homozygous Patients

Rolf Hultcrantz, Silva Mengarelli – 1 September 1984 – A light and electron microscopic investigation of liver tissue from three homozygous (Pi‐type ZZ) and three heterozygous (Pi‐type MZ) α1‐antitrypsin deficiency patients is presented. All had slightly elevated levels of serum amino transferases as the only signs of liver damage. Light microscopical investigation showed minor periportal fibrosis and periodic acid‐Schiff‐positive globules in the homozygous patients, but no specific findings besides fatty changes were seen in the heterozygous patients.

Urea Synthesis After Protein Feeding Reflects Hepatic Mass in Rats

Thomas G. Brewer, William R. Berry, John W. Harmon, Strothers H. Walker, Michael A. Dunn – 1 September 1984 – Urea synthesis is an exclusive biosynthetic function of the liver. Since the exact relationship between urea synthesis in vivo and functional liver mass remains unclear, we established an animal model using oral protein loading and measurement of resultant urea synthesis in rats. We studied rats subjected to sham operation, 40% hepatectomy, 66% hepatectomy, portacaval shunt and CC14‐induced cirrhosis.

Long‐Term Sequelae of Non‐A, Non‐B Hepatitis in Experimentally Infected Chimpanzees

Kenneth H. Burk, Gordon R. Dreesman, Guy A. Cabral, Robert L. Peters – 1 September 1984 – We have observed the development of long‐term sequelae in four cases of experimentally induced non‐A, non‐B (NANB) hepatitis in chimpanzees. These sequelae were characterized by the following manifestations: nonprotection against challenge with autologous infectious plasma following acute disease and subtle histopathological alterations typical of long‐lasting viral hepatitis. These manifestations were observed in animals infected with either of two human inocula.

Liquid Crystalline Phase Formation by Cholesterol in Aqueous Fatty Acid Salt Solutions

Joseph B. Bogardus – 1 September 1984 – The interaction of cholesterol with fatty acid salt solutions was investigated as a potential method for gallstone dissolution. In the presence of sodium oleate or laurate, crystalline cholesterol was rapidly converted into a lamellar liquid crystalline phase. Analysis of the mesophase showed that it contained approximately equimolar amounts of the lipid components, although water was the major constituent.

Bilirubin Chemistry, Ionization and Solubilization by Bile Salts

J. Donald OSTROW, Lillian Celic – 1 September 1984 – Bilirubin is a linear tetrapyrrole whose conformation is affected by internal hydrogen bonds formed between the carboxyl side chains and dipyrromethenone rings. Structural variations include: constitutional isomerism of the vinyl or carboxyethyl side chains, geometric isomerism of the methene bridges, tautomerism of the lactam groups, conformational rotations about the central methylene bridge and ionization of one or both carboxyl groups. Aggregation of the dianion into dimers and multimers may occur.

Techniques for Studying Biliary Secretion: Electrolytes in Bile

Christine E. Bear, Steven M. Strasberg – 1 September 1984 – A major limitation in understanding bile formation has been technical. The liver and ductular epithelium are relatively inaccessible, necessitating indirect techniques of uncertain validity. This is well seen in attempts to define the role of electrolyte secretion in bile. It is widely agreed that bile salts stimulate a component of canalicular flow and that inorganic electrolyte secretion is stimulated by bile salts. The choleretic efficiency of a bile salt is directly related to the magnitude of the electrolyte effect.

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