Cellular and matrix changes in drug abuser liver sinusoids: a semiquantitative and morphometric ultrastructural study

The aim of the present work was to analyse, at the ultrastructural level, the action of heroin of 150 centrilobular sinusoids from liver biopsies of five intravenous drug abusers, who presented clinical and biological manifestations of hepatic impairment. A comparative study of 90 sinusoids from liver biopsies of three control patients was performed. Electron microscopic observations showed a thickening of the sinusoidal wall related to endothelial cell hypertrophy and to fibrosis of the space of Disse. This was generally associated with basement-membrane-like material and hepatocyte microvilli flattening. In addicts, hepatic vascular pole changes were a constant finding, accompanied by interhepatocyte space disjunction and perisinusoidal collagenization. Morphometric assessment confirmed a significant increase of sinusoidal wall surface, endothelial cell body and processes and Ito cell process surface was significantly different between the patient groups. This cellular hypertrophy may represent hyperactivation of the sinusoidal cell functional capacity, triggering the fibrogenesis in the space of Disse. While this mechanical barrier might hinder the free exchange through the space of Disse, it may equally well protect the liver against heroin toxicity.