[Ultrastructural morphometric studies of fat storing cells in human chronic viral hepatitis].

OBJECTIVE

To study the dynamic changes of fat storing cells (FSC) in human chronic viral hepatitis.

METHODS

Liver biopsies from 5 chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), 5 mild chronic active hepatitis (CAH), 6 moderate CAH, 5 severe CAH cases and 8 normal liver tissues were used to investigate the number, appearance and organellae of FSC in non-fibrotic areas by cell counting under light microscope with semi-thick sections and morphometric study under electron microscope.

RESULTS

The number of FSC in non-fibrotic areas of CAH groups were decreased significantly compared with the normal group and CPH group; the percentages of transitional cells tended to increase along with the increase in degree of severity of liver fibrosis, some of the FSC were transformed into fibroblasts.

CONCLUSIONS

During the progress of liver fibrosis caused by CAH, FSC were constantly transformed into fibroblasts which tended to migrate to the fibrous septum of the hepatic lobules.