ULTRASTRUCTURAL HEPATOCELLULAR FEATURES ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERE HEPATIC LIPIDOSIS IN CATS

In this study, we compared hepatic ultrastructure in healthy cats, in cats with severe hepatic lipidosis, and in cats with experimentally in duced, chronic, extrahepatic bile duct occlusion. Ultrastructural feat ures unique to the lipidosis syndrome included an apparent reduction i n number of peroxisomes and alteration in their morphologic features. The quantity of endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complexes, and lysosomes was subjectively reduced, and paucity of cytosolic glycogen was observ ed, Bile canaliculi appeared collapsed because of cytosolic distention with lipid. Mitochondria were reduced in number and were markedly ple omorphic. Cristae assumed a variety of shapes, lengths, and orientatio ns. Ultrastructural features of bile duct occlusion were similar to th ose described in other species and differed from those in cats with he patic lipidosis.