Structural changes in dog liver during adaptation to high altitude

Vascular and tissue changes in the livers of dogs living on an altitude of 3200 m above sea level for various periods were studied by histological, morphometric, and electromicroscopic methods. Destructive changes were observed in hepatocytes after a month of exposure, which were due mainly to impaired hepatic microcirculation and increased from the center to the periphery of hepatic acinus. Ultrastructural changes occurred predominantly in the energy-producing and protein-synthesizing systems of hepatocytes.