[Hepatic artery of the rat in experimental cirrhosis of the liver].

In 30 male rats of Wistar strain (20 more rats served as controls) thickness of the internal elastic membrane, that of the media, cross section area of the media and that of the lumen were define 3, 4, 5 and 6 months after the experiment was started. The initial changes in the hepatic artery structure are noted on the 4th month, however, differences in the parameters are not yet statistically significant. On the 5th month certain signs of hypertrophy in the smooth muscle cells of the media are clearly seen, as well as an increasing thickness of the internal elastic membrane and that of the tunica media.