Surface morphology and ultrastructure of isolated hepatic Kupffer and endothelial cells

Isolated non-parenchymal cells from the rat liver were separated by centrifugal elutriation into two fractions containing structurally intact Kupffer and endothelial cells with purities of over 90% in both fractions. These two cell types were then examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. It is concluded that Kupffer and endothelial cells are readily distinguished under the scanning electron microscope on the basis of their different surface features. Kupffer cells show ridges and ruffles while endothelial cells have microvilli and blebs and lack ruffles. As in earlier studies, transmission electron micrographs show that Kupffer cells are larger, have a smaller nucleus--cytoplasm ratio and contain lysosomes while endothelial cells are smaller, have a higher nucleus-cytoplasm ratio and show extensive sieve-plates and fenestrations.