Zonal differences in lipoprotein formation in the thioacetamide-induced micronodular-cirrhotic rat liver.

The aim of the studies was to answer the question to what extent thioacetamide-induced structural alterations of hepatic architecture leading to fibrosis and micronodular pseudolobuli affect the formation of very low density lipoproteins and the zonation of lipoprotein metabolism observed in normal and acutely injured livers. Therefore, the number of the VLDL particles/Golgi complex and the relative specific volume of Golgi complexes as well as the number and relative specific volume of VLDL-filled vesicles was determined in lobular and nodular zones of normal and the micronodular-cirrhotic livers, respectively. The perinodular and centrinodular regions were morphometrically analysed in nodules with diameters between 0.