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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

In vivo Liver Endocytosis Followed by Purification of Liver Cells by Liver Perfusion
Published on: November 10, 2011
Influence of kavain on hepatic ultrastructure
Shuang Fu1, Emine Korkmaz, Filip Braet
1Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Aim:
To investigate whether the major kavalactone kavain imposes adverse effects on the liver ultrastructure and function by affecting vascular and microvascular architecture and altering hepatocellular morphology.
Methods:
Kavain solution (10 microg/mL or 43.5 micromol/L) was perfused for 2 h in isolated rat livers. After standard fixation and tissue preparation, the samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and light microscopy (LM).
Results:
LM, SEM, and TEM examinations indicated kavain-treated rat livers (n=4) displayed severe vascular and endothelial damage compared to control livers (n=4).
Conclusion:
The data so far support the hypothesis that kavain induces adverse effects on liver; additional investigations with other kavalactones and their effects on liver are urgently needed.
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