Measurement of hepatic parenchymal cell and nuclear volume in different classes of vertebrates

摘要

AbstractThe volumes of parenchymal cells and their nuclei in liver were calculated in white rats, Columba livia (rock pigeon), Calotes versicolor (garden lizard) and Bufo melanostictus (toad); from their optical area and cell thickness. The area was measured from camera lucida drawings. The largest cellular and nuclear volume was observed in rats and smallest in pigeons. The cell volume in toads was similar to that found in rats but they had smaller nuclei. The cellular and nuclear volumes in lizards were smaller than in toads; and in pigeons smaller than lizards. The significant difference, in both cellular and nuclear volumes that has been observed in different classes of vertebrate, cannot be correlated with the evolutionary changes.