Morphological changes of isolated rat hepatocytes induced by imipramine

Effect of imipramine on freshly isolated rat hepatocytes was investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Soon after the treatment of the cell with imipramine, marked changes in plasma membrane and mitochondria were found. Amitriptyrine, a structurally related drug, produced similar changes in the hepatocytes. On the other hand, Triton X-100, a nonionic surfactant, damaged the cell surface but little influence the features of the organelles.