[Histological, electron microscopic and biochemical study of the rat liver in experimental cardiomyopathy]

Morphological, electron microscopic, and biochemical studies of the livers of rats with experimental autoimmune cardiomyopathy were carried out. Morphological alterations of the liver included changes in hepatocytes, significant deposition of glycogen in liver cells, fatty dystrophy, signs of necrobiosis and necrosis in some parts of the liver. Electron microscopic studies of intracellular localization of glycogen revealed its accumulation in the cytoplasm, glycogen granules being represented mostly by alpha-particles. Lysosomes filled with glycogen were also demonstrated. These data are in good accord with the results of biochemical studies. The experimental results suggest possible causes of increased content of glycogen in the cytoplasm and lysosomes of liver cells in animals with experimental autoimmune cardiomyopathy, as compared with normal animals. The relationship between disorders in glycogen and lipid metabolism in this disease is discussed.