Fig. 6

Hepatic lipid droplets from HiF diet induced NAFLD livers demonstrate liquid crystal fluidity. A Sequential fusion of LC-HLDs were documented during the pressure-and-release (P&R) protocol. The first fusion shown in panels a to i is composed of two stages. In stage 1, a row of smaller LC-HLDs (S2 and S4 in panel s diagram) is lined up next to a large LC-HLD (S1 in panel s diagram) (panels a to d). During stage 2, the first small S2 LC-HLD fuses with the larger S1 LC-HLD (1st fusion of LC-HLD S2 to S1; panels e–i). A second fusion of a smaller S3 LC-HLD then follows the same mechanism (panels j to r). In this process, S3 LC-HLD first lines up with LC-HLDs S1 and S4 (panels j to k) before beginning the fusion process (panels l to r). The sequential fusion process is diagramed in panel s and the consequent volume changes confirming the LC-HLD merge are documented in panel t. B Sequential extrusions of LC-HLDs from a larger LC-HLD were also documented during the P&R protocol. The first extrusion is shown in panels a to d. Once the first LC-HLD droplet is fully extruded (panels e to j), a second extrusion begins (panels g to i) and successfully separates in panel j. The two sequential extrusions are diagramed in panel k and volume alternations during extrusion of LC-HLD S1 and S2 are documented in panel l. C An unsuccessful extrusion is recorded as in-and-out oscillations of a large, oblong LC-HLD. First a smaller LC-HLD (S2) is seen merging into a larger LC-HLD (S1) completely (panels a to g), before a new smaller LC-HLD (S3) forms and attempts to separate from the larger LC-HLD S1 (panel c to f). During this unsuccessful extrusion, the S3 merges back with the larger S1 (panel h to i) while the location S2 previously occupied begins to exhibit the formation of a new LC-HLD (S2*) (panel h to l). This in-and-out oscillation movement is diagramed in panel m, and volume alternations of LC-HLD S1, S2 and S3 are documented in panel n. Volume of individual and fusional LC-HLD sphere(s) were calculated using \(V_{sph} = \left( {\frac{\pi }{3}} \right)\left[ {h_{1}^{2} \left( {3r_{1} - h_{1} } \right) + h_{2}^{2} \left( {3r_{2} - h_{2} } \right)} \right]\) (h, spherical cap; r, spherical radius)