[Change in the dry weight of hepatocytes during chronic intoxication of rats with CCl4]

Abstract

Dry weigHT of rat hepatocytes (DWH) was measured microinterferometrically during a chronic CCl4 intoxication. Following a long chronic intoxication of rats by hepatotropic poison results in the increase in DWH by 63%. The increase in the DWH due to CCl4 intoxication may be associated either with cell hypertrophy or with the cell polyploidy, depending on the test animal. Thus the trigger mechanisms of hypertrophy or polyploidy in cell population are not identical. It is supposed that the hypertrophy of hepatocytes accompanying liver cirrhosis is perhaps one of the mechanisms involved in the normal cell reparative reaction on the increased organ functioning.