LIVER EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX PECULIARITIES IN MAMMALS AND AVIANS

Area of Science:

• Comparative anatomy
• Histology
• Extracellular matrix research

Background:

• Existing knowledge of the liver's connective tissue skeleton is unsystematized and lacks consistent terminology.
• Controversies exist regarding the construction of specific components within the liver's connective tissue matrix.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the connective tissue matrix construction in the livers of various mammals and birds.
• To identify and systematize general and specific patterns in liver extracellular matrix structure across species.

Main Methods:

• Anatomical preparation
• Histology, histochemistry, histotopography
• Immunohistochemistry
• Scanning electron microscopy of corrosion casts
• Fluorescence microscopy

Main Results:

• Identified connective tissue membranes of varying thickness and composition surrounding portal tracts and hepatic veins in both mammals and birds.
• Demonstrated interconnectedness of these membranes with the liver capsule and intralobular connective tissue network.
• Established the formation of a unified extracellular matrix that reinforces liver tissue structure.

Conclusions:

• The study systematizes the understanding of the liver's connective tissue matrix structure.
• The extracellular matrix plays a vital role in maintaining liver integrity, particularly in pathological conditions.
• Consistent patterns in liver matrix construction were observed across the studied mammalian and avian species.