The Structural Organization of the Liver in the Chinese Fire-bellied Newt (Cynops orientalis)

SUMMARY: The morphology of Chinese fire-bellied newt liver consists of 5 lobes, with exception of a few individual differences present, which are composed by a number of hepatic lobules. Passing through the center of the lobules, a central vein radiates and is arranged in orderly row from one to several layers. The interval of the hepatic cords or masses are irregular and variable sinusoid. The hepatic sinusoidal wall consists of one layer endothelial cells or Macrophagocytus stellatus (Kupffer cells), which have protrusions and elongations. The intervals of the hepatic cells have perisinusoidal space (space of Disse). The hepatic cell is polygonal in shape with uniform, round or oval nucleus, 17.8–12.4µm in diameter, mean 14.2 µm 2-6 nucleoli, nuclear-cytoplasmic volume ratio was 0.24:1. There is a lot of pigmentation in the hepatic parenchyma. KEY WORDS: Cynops orientalis; Liver; Histology; Morphology