The effects of 1,1-di(p-chlorophenyl)-2-chloroethylene (DDMU) on hepatic morphology of Japanese quail

The effects of dietary administration of 1,1-di(p-chlorophenyl)-2-chloroethylene (DDMU) to Japanese quail at a concentration of 100 ppm were investigated for periods of up to 32 days. Hepatic morphology was studied by light microscopy. Histologic changes observed included cytoplasmic and nuclear degeneration in the hepatocytes followed by severe lipid accumulation and hepatocellular hypertrophy. There was a progressive increase in cytoplasmic vacuoles containing lipid up to Day 24 followed by a decrease by Day 32 when the numbers of vacuoles remained greater than those in untreated quail livers. The vacuoles showed a distribution which followed the functional acinar units of the liver. Increased numbers and hypertrophy were observed in Kupffer cells and fibrocytes. There was an occasional necrotic hepatocyte observed but this lesion was not a prominent feature. Hepatocellular hyperplasia occurred as the lipid accumulation decreased. The histologic findings are compared with the biphasic response previously described.