INFLUENCE OF STARVATION ON THE STRUCTURE OF HEMIDACTYLUS-FRENATUS (LACERTILIA, GEKKONIDAE) HEPATOCYTES AND PEROXISOMES

The influence of starvation on hepatocyte ultrastructure of Hemidactyl us frenatus (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae) was investigated with special emp hasis on peroxisomes. Wall lizards (Hemidactylus frenatus) were sacrif iced after different periods of starvation and their livers were proce ssed for standard transmission electron microscopy. Peroxisomes were d emonstrated by means of the 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) cytochemical t echnique. A control group consisted of individuals which were fed ''ad libitum'' with Tenebrio molitor larvae. After a 7-day period of starv ation the ultrastructural observation of hepatocytes disclosed a marke d reduction of glycogen and lipid inclusions associated with fragmenta tion of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In later stages of starvation (14 and 25 days) ER proliferation and partial reconstruction of glycog en aggregations were observed. Increasing numbers of peroxisomes were arranged either in clusters (14 days) or in close association with mit ochondria, lipid droplets and elongated crystalloid structures (25 day s). Particularly noteworthy is the increasing cytochemical response of these organelles to the DAB reaction, suggesting greater metabolic ac tivity of catalase. These data suggest that morphological and function al plasticity of hepatocytes may contribute to adaptation of Hemidacty lus frenatus to prolonged starvation.