The ultrastructure of palmyrah (<em>Borassus flabellifer</em> L) - intoxicated mouse hepatocytes

Adult male BALB/cJ mice fed with 40% palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L) flour were examined at intervals of 1-5 days. Their livers were examined by light and electron microscopy. The hepatocytes of flour fed mice showed profound changes compared with the liver cells of control mice fed pellets alone. On light microscopy, there was hydropic degenera t ion p redominan t ly of perivenular hepatocytes, and mild periportal fatty degeneration without necrosis. Ultrastructural changes consisted of progressive mitochondrial swelling with loss of cristae, vesiculation of rough endoplasmic reticulum, with disaggregation and degranulation of ribosomes. These observations confirm the biochemical evidence of the occurrence of palmyrah-induced mitochondrial damage demonstrated by earlier workers. This report describes ultrastructural changes in the liver induced by palmyrah flour.