The structure of the liver of captive lion-tamarins (Callithrichidae, Primates): a stereologic approach

Abstract

Studies on liver morphology and stereology are relevant to the comparative anatomical and pathological research. They also facilitate the use of nonhuman primates in basic research, which has substantially supported studies in human medicine. Quantitative studies of liver structures have also been more extensive in Old World primates and other vertebrates. Twenty-three livers of adult lion tamarins were studied (06 Leontopithecus rosalia, 07 Leontopithecus chrysomelas, and 10 Leontopithecus chrysopygus), dissected, and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution. For stereological quantification, the liver was regarded as consisting of parenchyma (hepatocytes) and stroma (nonhepatocytes). The stereologic parameter volume density (Vv) was determined by point counting, using M42 test-system. Hepatic stereological differences among the three species of lion tamarins were not statistically significant. Therefore, the pooled V V [hepatocyte] and Vv [stroma] could be determined as 96.2% and 7.4%, respectively. Significantly different, the values found for V V [hepatocyte] in lion tamarins were 0.09 times greater than those in baboons, and 0.17 in man. However, the Vv [stroma] was 1.04 times smaller than that in baboons and 1.79 times smaller than that in man. The differences found among the rates studied, even if not proven statistically, point out to the need for further studies to correlate the morphological and physiological features of those tamarins.