In vivo microscopic observations of the pathogenesis of acute mouse viral hepatitis.

In vivo microscopy of the liver was undertaken to determine the extent of involvement of the hepatic microvascular system in mice infected with viral hepatitis (MHV-3). It was found that the major effects of the disease were produced in localized areas where parenchyma, sinusoids and blood were obliterated. However, immediately peripheral to these lesions blood flow and vessels were unaffected other than by localized hypertrophy of Küpffer cells. While each lesion produced a sinusoidal block to blood flow, portal hypertension did not occur even in the presence of extensive focal and confluent necrosis.