Change in the ultrastructure of hepatocyte contacts in mechanical deformations of liver tissue

: Rat liver specimens were deformed by compression between two parallel plates up to the state of plastic deformation to study with the electron microscope. The mechanical deformation was followed by a destruction of intercellular contacts and separation of hepatocytes. According to the pattern of destruction, all the contact elements can be divided into two groups. 1. Simple junction, desmosome, intermediate junction which exibit a wide range of structural changes prior to the moment of destruction. In this case, the process of cell separation proceeds in the adhesive way. 2. Tight and gap junctions which exibit a higher structural stability. In this case the process of cell separation appears to be of the cohesine nature.