ENDOTOXIN-INDUCED DEFENESTRATION OF THE HEPATIC SINUSOIDAL ENDOTHELIUM - A FACTOR IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF CIRRHOSIS

Defenestration and capillarisation of the hepatic sinusoidal endotheli um occurs early in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis, both in patients suf fering from alcohol abuse and in animal models. It it possible also th at alcohol abuse promotes the absorption of bacterial endotoxins from the gastrointestinal tract. In this study we have investigated the eff ects of a single intravenous injection of endotoxin on the hepatic sin usoidal endothelium of rats. Seven days after the dose of endotoxin, t he porosity of the sinusoidal endothelium was reduced to 40% of that o f controls, due to a decrease in both diameter and number of fenestrae . The livers examined 14 days after dosing exhibited normal porosity. We postulate that bacterial endotoxins play a role in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis by modulating the fenestrated sinusoidal endothelium (li ver sieve).