Light- and immunoelectron microscopic visualization of in vivo endocytosis of low density lipoprotein by hepatocytes and Kupffer cells in rat liver.

The in vivo interaction of low density lipoproteins (LDL) with the liver was investigated by visualizing the endocytic route using light- and immunoelectron microscopic methods in control and 17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol (EE)-treated rats. The fluorescent dye dioctadecyl indocarbocyanine perchlorate allowed the visualization of LDL at the light microscopic level. Cryoimmunocytochemistry using antibodies against apolipoprotein B was applied at the electron microscopic level.