Brain edema is a major complication of hepatic failure and responsible for death in a large percentage of patients. In this study, we reported the electron microscopic structure of brain tissue in hepatic failure.

We previously demonstrated the progressive accumulation of water in the rat brain with carbontetrachloride (CCl4) -induced hepatic failure. Marked swelling of the cytoplasm, perivascular processes of astrocytes were noted. The other cellular components of the brain had normal morphology. The basal lamina of the capillary endothelial cells had thicked. Histologic evidence of brain edema is seen in this model, with swelling of astrocytes as the primary manifestation of accumulation of water. Astrocytes areas were marked to be edema. Some myelinated fibers were showed degenerative changes. These findings support that develops edema in the brain in hepatic failure. Damage to astrocytes or inhibitions of their function may contribute to the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy in this model.