Abstract

The hepatic system of eleven specimens of routinely fed Siphonops annulatus was studied using light. and electrón microscopy, and histochemistry. its general structure agrees with previously known information from amphibia. Its hepatocytes, however. present an unexpected scarcity of rough endoplasmic reticulum, few lysosomes and fat dropleís, an abundance of glycogen beta partióles, and an exceptional amount of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The macrophages, visible in its sinusoid capillaries (Rupífer cells), present morphological and histochemi­cal characteristics that confirm their participation in (he phagocytosis and digestión of aged erythrocytes. The abundance of leucocytes and occasional mitotic figures in the sinusoidal lumen suggests a possible intrahepatic hematopoietic activity. It’s (fat storing) cells and collagen reticular fibers were observed in Disse's space.