Effect of rehydration of rat liver tissue after water deprivation

Male albino rats were deprived of water for 6 days, then they were allowed to drink tap water ad libitim. The structure of the liver was examined by light and electron microscopy, and the protein and dry matter contents, oxygen consumption and glucose-6-phosphatase activity of the liver were determined after rehydration. At 10 minutes, the mitochondria showed signs of division and a peculiar transformation of the cristae. At 60 minutes, the membranes of the rough endoplasmic reticulum were found to have proliferated. At 12 hours, the smooth-surfaced membranes showed hypertrophy and the bile canaliculi were distended. At 24 hours all rehydration induced organelle alterations were declining. The biochemical findings agreed well with the fine structural changes and both were indicative of an enchanced functional capacity of liver cells during rehydration.