Comparison of ballooned hepatocytes in alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver injury in rats

Abstract

Ballooned hepatocytes are commonly observed in alcoholic and sometimes in non-alcoholic liver diseases. To clarify whether pathogenesis of this change is different in alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver diseases, changes of the livers in rats fed alcohol with pyrazole for 12 weeks were compared with those of CCl 4 treated rats. Both groups of rats showed marked ballooning of the hepatocytes in the centrolobular area. Immunohistochemically, the ballooned hepatocytes in alcohol-pyrazole treated rats reacted strongly with transferrin and albumin staining. However, staining reaction of the ballooned hepatocytes in the CCl 4 treated rats was slight. In alcohol-pyrazole treated rats, hepatic microtubules were significantly decreased. Retention of transferrin and albumin were found only in the ballooned hepatocytes of alcohol-pyrazole treated rats. However, in the CCl 4 treated rats, neither microtubular alteration nor retention of the exportable proteins was observed. These findings indicate that the pathogenesis of ballooning of hepatocytes is different in alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver injuries. In alcoholic liver injury, microtubular alteration may lead to retention of protein and ballooning of hepatocytes by interfering with the hepatic secretion of proteins.