title: Incidence and nature of cytoplasmic hepatitis B antigen in hepatocytes.
abstract: Hepatitis B antigen (HB Ag) in the hepatocytic cytoplasm is detected by immunofluorescence after reaction with fluoresceinated antiserum to HB Ag or by electron microscopy as numerous 20- to 30-nm. tubular and circular structures in dilated cisternae of excess endoplasmic reticulum. On light microscopy, these hepatocytes can be recognized because their cytoplasm has a ground-glass appearance and stains with Gomori's aldehyde fuchsin. Aldehyde fuchsin-positive ground-glass hepatocytes were detected in all 14 asymptomatic carriers of HB Ag and in 16 of 60 HB Ag-seropositive patients with chronic hepatitis, but not in HB Ag-seropositive acute viral hepatitis or in various other HB Ag-seronegative liver diseases. These cells are helpful in identifying on light microscopy HB Ag carriers and a portion of patients with HB Ag-positive chronic hepatitis. Nuclear HB Ag did not stain with aldehyde fuchsin. Nucleic acids were not detected in the ground-glass cytoplasm by special stains at the light or electron microscopic level. We suggest that the tubular and circular structures in the hepatocytic cytoplasm are coat material of the hepatitis B virus or virally coded host cell reaction product rather than the complete hepatitis B virus.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens