Sato H, Kobori K, Haratake J
Unit of Anatomical Pathology, University Hospital, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
J UOEH. 1989 Sep 1;11(3):327-32. doi: 10.7888/juoeh.11.327.
A quantitative analysis of copper in liver tissue and a qualitative analysis of copper-binding protein in the histologic sections were subjected to correlative study. Liver sections, obtained from autopsies and surgical resections, were examined histopathologically by orcein staining, rhodanine staining, and other special stainings, in addition to hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining. The quantitative analysis was carried out by an atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Copper and copper-binding protein were not detectable by HE staining. The amount of orcein positive granules (OPGs) was graded semiquantitatively from negative (-) to three plus ( ). The average copper content was 24.9 micrograms/g dry liver weight (micrograms/g) in (-) group, 60.9 micrograms/g in (+) group, 158.9 micrograms/g in (++) group, and 299.3 micrograms/g in ( ) group respectively. Although the copper content and the amount of OPGs were relatively well correlated as mentioned above, standard deviations of copper contents were comparatively large in each group, especially in (++) or ( ) group. Based upon the comparative study of staining qualities of various dyes, rhodanine staining and orcein staining were specific for copper or copper-binding protein. Finally, orcein staining was thought to be the most excellent method from the viewpoints of sensitivity, specificity, contrast and simplicity. The distribution of excessive copper in pathologic conditions was fairly uneven. We recommend a histopathologic examination by using many liver sections stained by orcein, when the condition of copper overload is suspected.
对肝组织中的铜进行定量分析，并对组织学切片中的铜结合蛋白进行定性分析，二者进行相关性研究。从尸检和手术切除获取的肝脏切片，除苏木精伊红（HE）染色外，还通过地衣红染色、罗丹宁染色和其他特殊染色进行组织病理学检查。定量分析采用原子吸收分光光度法进行。HE染色无法检测到铜和铜结合蛋白。地衣红阳性颗粒（OPG）的数量从阴性（-）到三个加号（+++）进行半定量分级。（-）组的平均铜含量为24.9微克/克干肝重（μg/g），（+）组为60.9μg/g，（++）组为158.9μg/g，（+++）组为299.3μg/g。如上所述，虽然铜含量和OPG数量相对具有较好的相关性，但每组铜含量的标准差相对较大，尤其是在（++）或（+++）组。基于对各种染料染色质量的比较研究，罗丹宁染色和地衣红染色对铜或铜结合蛋白具有特异性。最后，从敏感性、特异性、对比度和简便性的角度来看，地衣红染色被认为是最出色的方法。病理状态下过量铜的分布相当不均匀。当怀疑存在铜过载情况时，我们建议使用多张用地衣红染色的肝脏切片进行组织病理学检查。
