Collagen arrangement in space of Disse correlates with fluid flow in normal and cirrhotic rat livers.

Little is known about collagen arrangement in the space of Disse was related to the fluid flow both in normal and cirrhotic liver. We examined the changes in the arrangement of type-I collagen in thioacetamide-induced cirrhotic rat livers with immunohistochemistry and SEM after maceration of the noncollagenous tissues with NaOH. The sparse bundles of collagen fibers in the spaces of Disse were mostly elongated fibers with a disorganized arrangement in each nodule. They connected with the broad fibrous septa. Based on a comparison of the architecture of the collagen fibers and the established flow of fluid in the space of Disse, we hypothesize that the fluid in the space of Disse streams along collagen fibers in all directions to broad fibrous septa. The appearance of perinodular plexus in cirrhotic rat livers probably helps to reduce portal hypertension.