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On the Ultrastructure of Epithelial Cells in Bile Ducts of Cattle Chronically Infected with Fasciola Hepatica
Gallgångsepitelets ultrastruktur hos nötkreatur med kronisk infektion av Fasciola hepätica
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 14, pages 233–244 (1973)
Abstract
This paper describes briefly the normal ultrastructure of bile-duct epithelial cells in cattle and the main ultrastructural alterations produced in them by chronic infection with Fasciola hepatica. The studies showed only inconsiderable abnormalities in the ultrastructure of the epithelium in infections of a low degree as also during the recovery phase of the disease. On the other hand, in heavily infected livers pronounced ultrastructural alterations were seen in the surface epithelium of the main intrahepatic bile ducts invaded by the flukes. In such areas the intercellular spaces were filled with dense homogeneous material, and intact desmosomes and junctional complexes were not regularly seen, which indicates that foreign material may leak into the bile. The extracellular material was probably composed of albumin, and the significance of the present results regarding the etiology of hypoalbuminaemia during chronic fascioliasis is discussed.
Sammanfattning
Detta arbete beskriver i korthet den normala ultrastrukturen och de ultrastrukturella förändringarna i gallgångsepitelet hos nötkreatur, förorsakade av en kronisk infektion med Fasciola hepätica. Vid en lindrig infektion och under sjukdomens läkningsstadium kunde endast obetydliga ultrastrukturella abnormaliteter i epitelet konstateras. Vid en höggradig infektion i levern var däremot de ultrastrukturella förändringarna i ytepitelet i de större intrahepatiska gallgångarna, invaderade av leverflundror, mycket påtagliga. I sådana områden var det intercellulära rummet fyllt av ett tätt homogent material. Intakta desmosomer och junktionala komplex kunde endast oregelbundet iakttagas vilket tyder på att ett läkage av främmande material till gallan kan ske. Det extracellulära materialet bestod antagligen av albumin. De anförda resultatens betydelse med avseende på etiologin av hypoalbuminämin i samband med kronisk fascioliasis diskuteras.
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Supported by grants from the National Research Council for Medical Sciences and the Finnish Veterinary Medical Foundation.
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Rahko, T. On the Ultrastructure of Epithelial Cells in Bile Ducts of Cattle Chronically Infected with Fasciola Hepatica. Acta Vet Scand 14, 233–244 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547441
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547441