Author:
Amenah Salman Mohammed
Page: 43-55
Published online: 30 Oct 2026
https://doi.org/10.36478/acerjrsb. 2026.43.55
The shape and function of the liver are significantly impacted by the physiological changes that take place in animals during pregnancy. To understand these distinctions, it is necessary to undertake research on the components of the liver in mice, including the arrangement of lobes and lobules and the organization of hepatocytes. The liver, one of the accessory organs associated with the digestive tract, plays a major role in carbohydrate and protein metabolism, inactivates many toxic substances and drugs, and synthesizes most plasma proteins and factors necessary for blood coagulation. During pregnancy, the liver parenchyma, represented by hepatocytes, adapts to the body's changes, highlighting the need for detailed studies on liver morphology and function to comprehend the broader implications of these physiological adjustments. This animal experimental study aims to investigate and contrast the morphological and histological variances in the liver tissues of pregnant and non-pregnant mice. The animal study compared pregnant and non-pregnant mice to analyze variations. This study conducted histological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin stains to assess liver weight, overall body weight, hepatocyte size, and glycogen levels. The Periodic Acid-Schiff stain was used to detect the presence of glycogen. Masson's Trichrome stain used to highlight collagen fibers. Silver staining is used in liver histology to identify reticular fibers, kupffer cells, and basement membranes. Immuno histochemical staining for Beta-catenin is a protein involved in cell adhesion and gene transcription, part of the cadherin protein complex. It regulates gene expression and maintains epithelial tissue integrity. The study found that pregnancy significantly increases both liver weight and overall body weight in mice, with a statistically significant p-value of 0.0001. Moreover, pregnant mice had larger hepatocytes compared to non-pregnant animals. The livers of pregnant mice exhibited a substantial rise in glycogen content (p=0.0001).The study found the difference was statistically significant, with a p-value of 0.001in β-Catenin expression in liver tissue between pregnant and non-pregnant groups. The non-pregnant group showed light brown staining, while the pregnant group showed darker brown staining. The results suggest that pregnancy is associated with an increase in β-Catenin expression, possibly reflecting changes in cellular processes or signaling mechanisms. This study indicates that pregnancy affects the size of the liver, the dimensions of liver cells, and the storage of glycogen, showing how the liver adjusts to meet the metabolic needs during pregnancy.