Space of Disse
Encyclopedia
The space of Disse is a location in the liver
between a hepatocyte
and a sinusoid
. It contains the blood plasma
. Microvilli
of hepatocytes extend into this space, allowing proteins and other plasma
components from the sinusoids to be absorbed by the hepatocytes. Fenestration and discontinuity of the endothelium facilitates this transport. This space may be obliterated in liver disease
, leading to decreased uptake by hepatocytes of nutrients and wastes (like bilirubin
, for example).
The Space of Disse also contains Ito cells
, also called hepatic stellate cells, which store fat
or fat soluble vitamins (like vitamin A
). A variety of insults that cause inflammation can result in Ito cells transforming to myofibroblasts, resulting in collagen
production, fibrosis
, and cirrhosis
.
The Space of Disse was named after German anatomist Joseph Disse
(1852–1912).
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
between a hepatocyte
Hepatocyte
A hepatocyte is a cell of the main tissue of the liver. Hepatocytes make up 70-80% of the liver's cytoplasmic mass.These cells are involved in:* Protein synthesis* Protein storage* Transformation of carbohydrates...
and a sinusoid
Liver sinusoid
A liver sinusoid is a type of sinusoidal blood vessel that serves as a location for the oxygen-rich blood from the hepatic artery and the nutrient-rich blood from the portal vein....
. It contains the blood plasma
Blood plasma
Blood plasma is the straw-colored liquid component of blood in which the blood cells in whole blood are normally suspended. It makes up about 55% of the total blood volume. It is the intravascular fluid part of extracellular fluid...
. Microvilli
Microvillus
Microvilli are microscopic cellular membrane protrusions that increase the surface area of cells, and are involved in a wide variety of functions, including absorption, secretion, cellular adhesion, and mechanotransduction....
of hepatocytes extend into this space, allowing proteins and other plasma
Blood plasma
Blood plasma is the straw-colored liquid component of blood in which the blood cells in whole blood are normally suspended. It makes up about 55% of the total blood volume. It is the intravascular fluid part of extracellular fluid...
components from the sinusoids to be absorbed by the hepatocytes. Fenestration and discontinuity of the endothelium facilitates this transport. This space may be obliterated in liver disease
Liver disease
Liver disease is a broad term describing any single number of diseases affecting the liver.-Diseases:* Hepatitis, inflammation of the liver, caused mainly by various viruses but also by some poisons , autoimmunity or hereditary conditions...
, leading to decreased uptake by hepatocytes of nutrients and wastes (like bilirubin
Bilirubin
Bilirubin is the yellow breakdown product of normal heme catabolism. Heme is found in hemoglobin, a principal component of red blood cells. Bilirubin is excreted in bile and urine, and elevated levels may indicate certain diseases...
, for example).
The Space of Disse also contains Ito cells
Hepatic stellate cell
Hepatic stellate cells , also known as perisinusoidal cells or Ito cells , are pericytes found in the perisinusoidal space of the liver also known as the space of Disse...
, also called hepatic stellate cells, which store fat
Fat
Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and generally insoluble in water. Chemically, fats are triglycerides, triesters of glycerol and any of several fatty acids. Fats may be either solid or liquid at room temperature, depending on their structure...
or fat soluble vitamins (like vitamin A
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a vitamin that is needed by the retina of the eye in the form of a specific metabolite, the light-absorbing molecule retinal, that is necessary for both low-light and color vision...
). A variety of insults that cause inflammation can result in Ito cells transforming to myofibroblasts, resulting in collagen
Collagen
Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins found in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content...
production, fibrosis
Fibrosis
Fibrosis is the formation of excess fibrous connective tissue in an organ or tissue in a reparative or reactive process. This is as opposed to formation of fibrous tissue as a normal constituent of an organ or tissue...
, and cirrhosis
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...
.
The Space of Disse was named after German anatomist Joseph Disse
Joseph Disse
Joseph Disse was a German anatomist and histologist born in Brakel, North Rhine-Westphalia.He studied at the University of Erlangen, and after graduation became an assistant to anatomist Heinrich von Waldeyer-Hartz at Strassburg...
(1852–1912).