Ultrastructural Changes of Jejunal Epithelial Cells in Liver Cirrhosis

Abstract

Portela-Gomes, G., Martins, M. M. & Pinto Correia, J. Ultrastructural changes of jejunal epithelial cells in liver cirrhosis. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1974, 9, 657–663.

The stereomicroscopic and histological appearances of the jejunal mucosa and the ultrastructure of the villous absorbing cells were studied in 10 patients with liver cirrhosis and 5 normal subjects. These controls had a normal structure and showed features similar to those previously published. In the 10 patients with cirrhosis normal finger and leaf-shaped villi were observed on the stereomicroscope. Histological examination of these biopsies showed a normal mucosa. In all cases, the ultrastructure of the epithelial cells showed an irregular pattern of abnormalities of varied severity. The abnormal cells showed irregularity and blistering of the microvilli, and the terminal web area was poorly developed, with an increased number of vacuoles. The mitochondria were swollen with clear spaces and myelin-like material. There were abundant vesicles containing lipid-like substance; the smooth endoplasmic reticulum was increased, and the rough endoplasmic reticulum persisted only in close association with mitochondria. There were enlarged vesicles of the Golgi complex. The nuclei were irregularly shaped, and in the cytoplasm there were autophagic vacuoles and myelin figures. Rubin has described changes in the small intestine, induced by ethanol, similar to those found in our 9 alcoholic patients with cirrhosis. The patient with cirrhosis and no alcohol showed some alterations of the microvilli, autophagic vacuoles, and irregularly shaped nuclei.

Key-words::

• Biopsy
• jejunum
• liver cirrhosis
• ultrastructure