ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the role of apoptosis in hepatocyte injury in tyep Ⅰ autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Methods Using transferase mediated UTP biotin nick end labling (TUNEL) technique and immunohistochemistry with anti Fas antibody, we detected apoptosis cells in 10 liver biopsy samples and 3 control livers obtained from normal subjects. Result Hepatocytes in all AIH liver tissues were positively stained by TUNEL and anti Fas antibody in various degree. In contrast, control tissues did not show DNA fragmentation or positive stain with anti Fas antibody. A significant correlation was seen between apoptosis index (AI) and necroinflammatory grading ( r =0.45, P
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the morphological characteristics of oval cells in human chronic liver diseases, and determine whether there is a relationship between the number of oval cells and liver fibrotic stage. Methods Oval cells were detected in paraffin bedded liver sections of 3 normal subjects (as controls) and 29 chronic liver diseases, using histoimmunochemistry. Cells were counted if they fulfiled the morphological criteria for oval cells and showed cytoplasmic staining. Results Oval cells were not observed in normal livers. In chronic liver diseases, oval cells were located predominantly in the periportal region and fibrosis septa, characterized by an ovoid nucleus, small size, and scant cytoplasmic. The number of oval cells increased significantly ( F=22.60, P